Tropical Storm Lee Costs Mount

Already cash-strapped and tired states now find themselves dealing with further multiple costs as the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee beleaguered the Mid-Atlantic region.Hurricane Irene had tested the area severely,which now must battle record flooding from Lee's five days of nearly continuous rainfall.
At least two people were swept away to their deaths by high water in Virginia,one of them a twelve year-old boy.Pennsylvania's death toll rose to five by Friday as the Susquehanna River closed at least 178 roads in the worst flooding since Hurricane Agnes in 1972.
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett described a clear public health emergency in his state as sewage plants were swamped and rendered inoperable.The flood waters could contain all sorts of dangers,from the raw sewage to manifold debris and diesel fuel.
The Susquehanna River drains lands from New York state to Maryland,flowing eventually into the Chesapeake Bay.It is estimated that T.S. Lee has dropped some 2.4 trillion gallons of rain water on the Susquehanna basin.
Other states have also recorded various difficulties on account of the endless rain.Pompton Lakes,New Jersey had to condemn 22 homes that have been inundated repeatedly by Hurricane Irene and T.S. Lee.A car dealer in Upper Marlboro,Maryland counted a loss of five million dollars of inventory ruined by chaotic waters.
The sun has not been seen for so long,the region's residents may not recognize it when it finally does return.
Update:As of Saturday,September 10,the long-gone sun had indeed returned to the Mid-Atlantic skies.All the same,it should be noted that some of T.S. Lee's energy is still present in the atmosphere.This may result in isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms for the next several days.In consequence,flash flooding could result,even though the region's waterways have begun the receding process.Setbacks may occur,given the historic drenching that has been sustained.
Towards the middle and end of the new week,the jet stream is expected to dip dramatically,bringing the possibility of a record-breaking cold front to the lower 48.Colorado already has seen the first snow of the season,a dusting that fell on the Arapahoe basin.

A Costly and Profitable Weekend Ahead

Insurance companies active in the eastern states are bracing for a round of natural fury from Hurricane Irene.As well,parts of the retail sector in the region could suffer from a relatively rare direct hit from this type of storm on the big cities of the northeast,as people shelter in place instead of shopping at malls and department stores or are even evacuated.Ocean City,Maryland and other eastern beach resorts are already evacuating guests and closing to new visitors.It's the first time since Hurricane Gloria in the 1980s that Ocean City was evacuated.
Some stores,however,such as hardware and food retailers,will benefit as citizens augment emergency supplies.One New York City woman bought 100 dollars worth of batteries.Bottled water and milk were other top sellers there.Home Depot ran out of flashlights.Mayor Michael Bloomberg recommended preparing go bags,which contain your medications,important documents and so on,should you face evacuation.
Hospitals are topping off generators with fuel,and citizens are also filling up their tanks,even as refineries may have to close.A spike in gas prices could result.
Home Depot prepositions containers full of disaster-related products at its distribution centers.When needed,they are simply rolled into semis for transport to the affected areas.Disaster operations are directed in consultation with district managers from a war room of sorts,complete with big screen newscast monitors.There are Home Depot staff members who are dedicated to disaster retailing.
Some 200 miles west of Ocean City,along the Blue Ridge Mountains,there was a good deal of rain Saturday evening,but little wind.Power went down several times for an instant,requiring the annoying resetting of digital clocks-except for one with a battery backup.The most striking visual of the day had been the rapidly moving low, dark clouds,showing that there was considerable energy aloft.There weren't any sirens going off,but there was just enough of a touch of weather history to make it an unusual-feeling day.
Home Depot(HD),Lowe's(LOW)