More Flooding Possible in Isabel's Wake

[newyawker99]

Isabel made a swift flight across the Mid-Atlantic, but its devastation promises to be slow to overcome: Millions were still without power, debris clogged streets and flooding left drinking water contaminated.

At least 30 deaths had been blamed on the storm, 17 of them in Virginia. North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and Delaware were declared federal disaster areas. Federal officials warned of new flooding as runoff from the storm pours into streams.

"It's going to be quite unsafe for some time to come, until we manage to finish cleaning it up," National Park Service spokesman William Justice said after the Potomac River overran its banks.

Tempers frayed as long lines formed Saturday in many places where there was news of ice or water available. Families began emptying refrigerators and freezers filled with spoiled food, and many faced the prospect of several days without a home-cooked meal or a hot bath.

Isabel

[demnan]

1. Finally got my first hot shower in days this morning.

boy did it feel good. Two days of power outage make you really appreciate the simple things like hot water, cold ice and air conditioning.

I think people unfairly blamed the power company because this storm was unprecidented. My 81 year old mother can't remember a more severe storm in the Washington area, and she's lived here all her life.

This storm was a monster!!! A century event.

[goddess40]

2. 30 died, but was it their own fault?

I think when they announce the death toll there should be an explaination as to why they really died. Were they really unable to get out of the way or were they stupid. If people are dieing because they can't afford or set up a way to get out of harms way the gov't isn't doing it's job to protect is citizens. If on the other hand people are being arrogant and think nothing will happen their deaths should be attribited to that and not the storm.
It may sound harsh but that is the only way people learn for the future.
I'm sorry for all the families and friends that lost loved ones but lying about the reason, at least to adults, isn't right.

[methinks2]

3. well, well,

does anyone think that the admin will wake up and bring our nat'l guard back? Or will they try to downplay the suffering of our citizens and accuse those who complain that we need the guard to help here at home as being un-patriotic?

[madrchsod]

4. well let`s see

this is getting into fall and then winter..how long will it take to get things up and running before the winter storms hit? if i remember the east coast got smacked hard last year. so much for homeland security.

[Don_G]

5. From My Own Experience

It's going to take a while. I used to be a Telephone Installer/Repairman in a city that got smacked by multiple tornados one day and later by a massive sewer explosion.

The logistics of clean-up and supply will be a problem. The infrastructure to bring in men and supplies has been damaged. These will need to be repaired and the areas affected cleaned up to string up new power lines.

Even so, a lot will be jury-rigged or replaced at below-minimal standards to get the service up and running. It will take 3-5 years to go back and redo the electrical grid---longer if the engineers upgrade the outside plant standards to enable the systems to handle a similar future event.