Va., D.C. Declare Storm Emergency

[rodeodance]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/01/AR2006090100183.html

Va., D.C. Declare Storm Emergency
Region Takes Precautions Against Repeat of June's Flooding Damage

By Ann E. Marimow and Fred Barbash
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, September 1, 2006; 12:02 PM

The fringe of Tropical Storm Ernesto spread persistent rain across the Washington area this morning after advancing inland across eastern North Carolina overnight just shy of hurricane strength and then progressively weakening.

Parts of eastern North Carolina got 8 inches of rain. The National Weather Service said the Washington region could get anywhere from 3 to 6 inches during the next 24 hours along with powerful gusts with the potential to bring down tree limbs and power lines.



The storm made landfall at nearly 70 mph maximum sustained winds near Long Beach, N.C. Winds then deteriorated to 60 mph and, by 11 a.m., to 35 mph, low enough for the National Hurricane Center to reclassify the storm as a tropical depression.

[bdamomma]

1. too bad all that rain would just fall on WH and flood George out of there.

[sofa king]

2. Well, the emergency ain't here yet.

It's a little windy and a little rainy, and while we haven't seen much of either lately, I think we're gonna pull through just fine.

But I hope all the rest of you use that excuse to get the hell out of the office early! And have a great weekend, rain or not.

[marions ghost]

3. SE VA

Norfolk, Newport News Peninsula, Eastern Shore got it pretty bad. Widespread power outages, trees down, flooding (not as bad as Isabel but worse than they thought it would be) --about 8 inches of rain. Folks with generators are using them I heard.

[hashibabba]

4. It's not too bad here in Northern VA.

Some wind and pretty heavy rain. I don't really think its going to be a big deal, but will wait to see what comes when the center of it hits here.

[jbane]

5. Get ready NOVA

This is a pretty tough storm. Lots of wind and LOTS OF RAIN.
It's passing through Richmond now and we are not getting the worst of it.

[rodeodance]

6. gee, Air Force One could be grounded?

[Virginia Dare]

7. same here, but power has been flickering on and off..

since this a.m., and it's supposed to get a little worse around rush hour. We'll make it through though, this is nothing compared to Isabel.

[MrScorpio]

10. I_Was_Lucky

A_relatively_short_Power_Outage_and_Just_a_few_branches_Down_in_may_back_yard.


No_real_damage

[marions ghost]

12. Glad to hear that Mr. Scorpio

I have friends in your area who said it was pretty bad for them. No power, no phone (land lines), trees in the roads. They are going on 14 hours without power and losing some food. But not as bad as it could be. Everybody in your parts seems to remember Isabel as the Big One. This one just a bad flashback.

Be careful if you're out and about tomorrow. :)

[LostinVA]

8. It's pretty bad here in Central VA -- has been all day

Moron trail runner here went out to run in 35-40 mph gusts and driving rain anyway. However, about half a mile into the run, a frigging tree fell in front of me. I figured the gods were telling me to get the hell back to my car before I was smashed to smithereens...

[hedgehog]

9. So how are things coming along?

It's hard to get a good feel for the effect of a storm when the problem is rain, not wind. Rain just isn't dramatic enough or something for television.

[marions ghost]

11. heard from relatives

on the Eastern Shore of VA. Hairy over there. No phones (land lines) at all. Cell phones intermittent. Could hear only a few words..."I'm OK"...call so & so..." Could not really have a conversation even on cell phone before it went dead. Trees down, no power and lots of flooding, everybody hunkering down. A mess.