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.