Persistent Rains Wreak Havoc in Many Parts of the United States
August 15, 2011
People living in many parts of the U.S. have had to endure record-setting temperatures this summer. To add insult to injury, the temps have cooled down but in return people are facing record-setting rainfall amounts and flooded homes and businesses.
A wide trough of thunderstorms containing large amounts of rain have slowly been moving their way into the Midwest and portions of the East Coast. In northeastern Ohio, already heavy rains and a forecast for more along the lakeshores could mean flooding for many counties. The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for nearly every county in the northwestern portion of Ohio through today. A watch means that there is a chance for homes and businesses located in low lying, flood-prone areas to flood and that residents and business owners should be on guard.
In New York City, many streets and roadways were closed on the weekend due to flooding. There were many reports of motorists left stranded on city streets throughout the metro area as their vehicles were submerged in several feet of water. Residents of New York are being told not to take any chances on flooded streets and to exercise extreme caution when walking in flooded areas in the city.
Record downpours pounded Staten Island, flooding basements and stranding vehicles on the roads there. Many properties have been destroyed and a countless number of garages and basements become water-logged. The shock of finding their homes and businesses filled with water is causing many Staten Islanders to go into panic-mode as most feel helpless over what has occurred.
Things are not much brighter in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Heavy rains are in this week’s forecast after an already wet weekend. Flash flood watches have been put into effect for the southern portion of the state Monday and a flood advisory has been issued for the northwestern part of the small state. The rest of Connecticut is under a flood watch. The state has already received up to eleven inches of rain since the weekend and another two is expected early this week with some areas of the state expected to get even more.
