WATERBURY, Vt. (AP) -- Vermont's state hospital is being evacuated after floodwaters threatened the Waterbury facility.

Vermont Department of Human Services Secretary Doug Racine said Monday that all 51 patients and staff who are travelling with them are being placed in other facilities like Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, The Brattleboro Retreat and the Southern Vermont Correctional Facility.

The psychiatric hospital lost power Sunday night and some of the patients had to be evacuated from the first level of the hospital when rising water from the remnants of Hurricane Irene inundated the town.

Racine says boats were on standby with the National Guard on Sunday night, in case the hospital had to be evacuated.