Thunderstorms lashed San Antonio with pouring rains and high winds early Wednesday as the state of Texas is bracing for possible widespread flooding and the threat of tornadoes throughout the day. Approximately three inches of rain fell on the San Antonia area thus far with Austin getting over four inches. Texas had been experiencing its worst drought on record so the rainfall was needed although not this much this quickly.

The widespread storms have cut the power off for tens of thousands of people and shut down dozens of roadways and streets in and around San Antonio. Portions of the city are under flash flood warnings while parts of central and southeastern Texas are under tornado watches. Drivers and residents have been rescued from floodwaters southeast of Dallas Wednesday morning as very high waters filled surface streets. Some cars were abandoned on roadways in deep water submerged up to their roofs.

Many flights leaving Dallas-Fort Worth airport were canceled Wednesday as heavy downpours and winds up to 55 miles per hour made runway conditions too perilous for take-off. Local meteorologists are warning residents not to take the weather too lightly as there could be tornadoes developing in the type of weather pattern that is moving through. Houston residents living in low lying areas are being told to prepare their homes for possible flooding as the worst of the bad weather will arrive there around lunchtime. High winds have already taken out trees and powerlines, leaving around 18,000 without electricity.

The powerful storms which are moving across Texas could result in large hail falling as well as the continued threat of heavy rain, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes. The powerful thunderstorms are forecast to push eastward into Louisiana. The National Weather Service has already issued a tornado watch for portions of that state through Wednesday afternoon.

The Susquehanna River snakes its way through 400 miles of land from upstate New York to Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay. The river is threatening to overflow its banks in many areas which is forcing weather-weary people to pack up their homes and to move in with family, friends or to stay in temporary shelters. In Binghamton, New York, over 19,000 residents were told to evacuate as all roads to the city have been shut down as the big river rose eleven feet above flood level there, sending water rushing over retainer walls and into the downtown district. Binghamton is situated between the Susquehanna and Chenago rivers, leaving it particularly vulnerable. Just a bit south of Binghamton the river is expected to crest at more than eighteen feet above flood stage in the Wilkes-Barre area, forcing tens of thousands of residents there to leave their homes. Businesses in Wilkes-Barre closed at noon Thursday, leaving the city looking like a ghost town. Flood cleanup efforts could last months in Allentown and Harrisburg Pennsylvania.

Rivers and creeks neared or surpassed flood stage yesterday from Maryland to Massachusetts and weather experts are warning that more flooding is on its way. Tropical storm Lee has been compounding the misery for many people who are still trying to recover from the damages done by Hurricane Irene. At least eleven people in the Northeast have lost their lives because of Lee which has resulted in officials in many states reminding people not to venture out into the flood waters. It is unusual to have such high numbers of people being ordered to leave their homes in the US due to flooding although hurricanes like Irene can force millions to seek dry land.

President Obama has declared states of emergencies in both Pennsylvania and New York. These two states have been hit the hardest by the torrential rainfall and flooding caused by Lee. Officials in both states are scrambling to put emergency measures into place as they are expecting the worst to happen. Both states are stockpiling food, water supplies and generators.

Nearly every major river in the state crested Monday. The waters are starting to recede however the devastation was already very widespread. The last time Vermont saw flooding on this scale was back in the fall of 1927 which also was the result of a tropical storm that moved into the state. This time around the rainfall fell on already-saturated grounds from heavy springtime rains. Vermont’s mountainous geography played a part in the flooding as torrents of water rushed down mountain streams.

Although the damage occurred statewide, it was mainly concentrated in the southern portion of Vermont. There are dozens of small towns and villages that rescue teams simply cannot get to because of washed out roads and downed trees and power poles. Very few people in Vermont purchase flood insurance, and that is a huge concern now as a countless number of homes and businesses throughout the state have flooded basements. FEMA has authorized funds for the state of Vermont but thus far those affected do not know how to apply for help.

Vermont’s governor Peter Shumlin toured the affected areas of his state by helicopter Monday and called the devastation “heartbreaking”. The chopper landed in Bennington as the town was particularly hard-hit. Shumlin stated that federal help is on the way as he has been in direct contact with President Obama who pledged that Washington will do what is needed to assist. Many areas of the state remained under flood watches and warnings early Tuesday with the National Weather Service saying that record flooding was still occurring in some areas of the state. Vermont did not order or even suggest evacuations mainly due to the fact that many of the communities are located in low-lying areas. There are very few large areas of dry land, making large-scale evacuations impractical.

Overall, about 5 ½ million homes and business were still without power from North Carolina all the way up to Maine. THe devastation in New Jersey, has caused substantial basement flooding issues throughout Newark as flood waters continue to rise. Hurricane Irene is thought to have caused significant property losses, although exact figures are not know due to uncertainty about wind damages. The expensive cleanup in Vermont and other affected states on the East Coast will further strain budgets of both local and state governments where the economies have not yet fully recovered for the recession.

Back in the States hurricane warnings have gone up across the eastern seaboard. If the storm does make landfall it’s expected to hit the Carolinas the hardest. In North Carolina evacuations have already begun for some of the states outlying islands. On the barrier island of Ocracoke for example, both tourists and the island’s approximately 800 residents have already been told to leave. Ferries to the mainland have already started leaving Ocracoke.

Throughout the Carolina’s outlying islands businesses and homeowners have begun boarding up in an attempt to protect their property and belongings. Those gutsy enough to defy evacuation orders and attempt to ride out the storm are stocking up with the essentials including food, clean water, gasoline, and batteries.

At the very least Irene is expected to knock out power and cause damage to trees and fragile structures. At worst it could match previous hurricanes that caused significant property damage, coastal flooding and erosion, and a host of other issues. And with a 7′ storm surge and winds stretching 400 miles, Irene doesn’t even need to make landfall to cause problems.

Further up the coast preparations are being made as far north as New England. States like Maine and Massachusetts are especially vulnerable to excessive rainfall due to soil already saturated from heavy spring and summer rains. Any significant rain coming from Irene could potentially cause significant flooding in coastal cities.

Experts are predicting landfall sometime between Saturday and Sunday, although there’s no guarantee. As these storms change so frequently and rapidly, there is no sure way to tell who will be impacted, and when. Nonetheless, residents living anywhere along the eastern coast of the United States should begin to make preparations now while they have time. Homeowners should at the very least board up their windows and bring all unsecured items indoors. That includes gas grills, lawn furniture, children’s toys, etc.

In areas where evacuations are not mandatory residents might still consider heading for higher ground after they have secured their homes. Those who decide to stay should designate a safe area in their homes, or search for a local shelter at a school, fire hall, or other suitable building. Residents should also make provision for elderly or disabled family members and neighbors. If evacuation orders are issued by local governments residents should by all means obey them.

A full one-forth of the city’s 41,000 residents were forced to evacuate as the Souris River broke through levees in some places. Warning sirens were sounded to alert the affected residents to leave their homes immediately. Unfortunately, over the next few days the flooding is expected to become worse than the historic flood that hit the are back in 1969. The Souris reached a record level of 475 meters in 1881 and it is expected to surpass that mark by the coming weekend.

So far two shelters have been set up in Minot – one at Minot State University and the other at the city’s auditorium. However, with a combined capacity of just 1,000 people, more shelters will most likely be set up elsewhere. Red Cross volunteers from many states are arriving in Minot to help with the crisis and the North Dakota National Guard is also in the city to help keep order and to check homes to be sure that people who were told to leave actually did so.

On another negative note, FEMA rejected North Dakota’s application for assistance for private homeowners and businesses. State officials are very displeased with this decision and are appealing that FEMA reconsiders. FEMA will however, assist with flooding costs which are directly related to public infrastructures. North Dakota’s three members of Congress have been on the Senate and House floors giving speeches to press the feds for more financial aid.

The Souris River flows directly through the center of Minot and there are numerous houses and businesses situated on its banks. Local levees have been built because officials do not believe the main levees will be able to hold back the flooding. One makeshift levee is being constructed around a local school while a second is being built around the city’s Broadway St. Bridge. The National Guard has reported that affected residents of Minot are heeding the warnings to leave their homes which is positive as rapidly rising flood waters can prove deadly as we learned very well from the Katrina disaster in New Orleans.

The street that is in front of Bob’s house always gets flooded whenever there is heavy rain and this week which experienced one of the heaviest downpours has made things difficult for him. There is no puddle here, but a 100 foot long pond that conceals the parkway, covers the entire road including the treacherous potholes. There are no sewers and drains in this area of Mather Avenue, which means the area remains flooded for days on end. Schleder said that the mosquito infested area, witnesses ducks flying in and making the stagnant water their home in such times.

Things were not the same when he had first moved into the house 21 years ago. But after new houses and driveways were constructed making the runoff go down the street and the area around his home became a reservoir for water to be collected. Bob had made numerous requests to the city mayor and the city administration but in vain. The last reply he has got is that the problem is not only an expensive one but it would also need an entire reconstruction of the street. One also has come to know that the solution is in the form of installing a sewer system on the Mather Avenue, which would require a funding of $500,000, something that Alsip does not have.
This is not just the plight of Bob Schleder, although his hardship cannot be overlooked. There are many who have been affected to a large measure from the Chicago floods that have been ravaging the area since June 9. Dozens of people have been rendered homeless. Whenever there is flooding, the casualty or even the destruction of property has a lot to do with city or town management and drainage facility. For Alsip, it has been no good. The fire chief in the area said that the top part of a three storey building has been struck, resulting in fire. People at this point in time are relocating and the American Red Cross has been working with people to arrange for food and accommodation.

On a larger perspective, Chicago has been bracing for the floods that have already made their presence, ending the heat wave that had been at its severest point since 1933. There is going to be a public meeting in Chicago to decide how people will be able to cope with possible floods and tornadoes in the area, this Wednesday. The topics to be talked about will be about how information should be disseminated from emergency response agencies and weather experts and how people can prepare and co-ordinate during extreme weather. The Wednesday’s 2 hour free event begins at noon at the Chicago Cultural Center. The event will be sponsored by Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications, the National Weather Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency officials and local television meteorologists. One wishes that the plight of Alsip is also given its due importance.

The National Weather Service had given the warning that people close to Northern Mississippi River as well as the other rivers in the Midwest region are likely to experience flooding. . This year the prediction was that the floods would extend from the northeastern Montana through west Wisconsin and from the Mississippi river to St.Louis.
The Federal Management Agency has stated that March and April has cited that North Dakota, Fargo, Moorhead and Minnesota have been always hit hard by Red River flooding, especially since the past two years. The agency has cited some things that people can take note of so that they are able to prepare themselves for floods and take appropriate precautions for safeguarding their life and property: They are mentioned as under:

1. Have a plan ready: Plan in advance about what you should do when there is flooding. For instance, your family may not be together, when a flood hits; so you should know how you could contact each other and reach in safe place, whenever there is an emergency situation. Keep a list of numbers that you can call for help when needed. Also, there is an emergency number that you can call through your cell phone, which can work without network. An out of town contact is better in such a situation so make arrangement to speak to a long distance friend or relative, you can reach out to. Also since your family members may be working at various places: offices, school, college, daycare etc; make sure that they are well-informed and refreshed about emergency measures to take in the wake of a natural disaster like flooding or storm.

2. Get an emergency kit ready: The emergency kit can be your lease of life, so to say, during flooding. It has been statistically proven that an emergency kit consisting of water, food, medicine, a battery-operated radio can keep you and your family going strong for three days Also carry sand to improve traction, snow shovels to remove snow and enough clothing and blankets to keep warm. Do not forget to take first-aid kit, local maps and cell phone with inverter or solar charger.

3. Protect your home and property: Get a thorough assessment about your home and how much of it is at risk during flooding. For a thousand square feet home with six inch flood, the total losses could be $20,150. It is good to check with a flood insurance agent about what would work best for you. Also please note that flood policies take 30 days to become effective, so make sure that you buy it right now so as to protect your property from an eventuality.

The major storm that is headed to the area could bring three or more inches of rain with it, which could turn to snow and ice by the end of the weekend. Those residents whose homes have already suffered flood damage are being warned to check their well water before starting to use the water again. Health officials recommend that bottled water be used for cooking, drinking and brushing teeth. Flood water poses serious health risks such as exposure to diseases, drowning and many dangers associated with cleaning up flood water damaged homes and property.

Residents in the path of the storm can remove mud and leaves from storm drains or inlets in front of their homes and along curbs to prevent drains from becoming clogged. All contaminated items removed from flooded homes should be properly disposed of and the contaminated areas should be cleaned with diluted bleach water. It is important to wear protective clothing such as rubber gloves and boots when cleaning up after flood damage.

Spring flooding is always a concern at this time of year in the Midwest as rapid snow melt and heavy rain can cause flooding. The National Weather Services says that areas from southern Minnesota through the Ohio River and New England face the greatest risk for flooding this spring. While the flooding will be welcome news to Ohio water restoration companies, homeowners are not likely to welcome the significiant potential for heavy rains this year.

The storm heading into the Ohio Valley region could bring with it thunderstorms, tornadoes and hail. The rain could change to ice later in the weekend due to falling temperatures. Many residents in portions of Ohio have just begun to return to their flooded homes this week and now face having more water rushing in. Many communities in the area are setting up free sandbag pickup sites in their communities and are encouraging residents to keep an eye on the weather reports and to heed evacuation warnings coming from local officials.

Those areas most likely to see flooding are along the Upper Mississippi Riverwhich includes parts of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and Missouri. The Red River in North Dakota and Minnesota, the James River in South Dakota and Devils Lake in North Dakota are also at risk of flooding.

It is almost certain that major flooding will occur along the Red River. Both Minnesota and North Dakota residents are already busy at work filling sand bags. They are hoping that the sand will hold back what might become record-breaking crests. The National Weather Service has reported that it has seen no improvements in the conditions along the river from what they saw three weeks ago, which is not a good sign for nervous home and business owners in the area.

In 2009, the Red River reached a record-breaking crest of over 40 feet in Fargo and it swelled to over 50 feet in 1997 at Grand Forks. Right now, the National Weather Service is saying that there is a better than 50 percent chance that the crests will be over 50 feet in Grand Forks.

The weather service is also warning that no river in the state of Minnesota will be immune from flooding this spring. It is expected that flooding will close some of the main bridges connecting St. Paul with Minneapolis. Emergency management officials have told Minnesota residents to take out flood insurance if they live in a high risk area. The peak flood season is estimated to take place during the last two weeks of March leading into the first two weeks of April. The temperatures in the Upper Midwest have already reached the lower 50s in recent days, following one of the snowiest and coldest winters in many decades. Residents are already on edge in the region, hoping that somehow their area escapes what is shaping up to be the inevitable.

In Fargo, residents are expected to fill over three million sand bags. In nearby Moorhead, the sand bag duties have been out-sourced to help to safeguard the city from the ravages of flood waters.

Planes at some of the country’s largest airports were grounded as the storm wreaked its havoc. Wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour were unrelenting, making it impossible for airport runway workers to keep up. Road crews in numerous states also battled to no avail as the drifting snow made it impossible for them to do their work. Trains were canceled, subway lines froze and bus lines put the brakes on numerous routes.

New York City has not seen such a snowstorm in six decades. Children reveled in the snow while frustrated workers struggled to walk through snow that was waist-deep. By Monday night, the entire city was blanketed in snow as deep as 20 inches. Even as the snow stopped falling, the gusty winds threatened those people who were set to return to work after the holiday weekend. The normally way over-crowded 5th Ave. in Manhattan was all but deserted during Monday’s rush hour with very few vehicles on the streets. Instead, people were trying to walk to their destinations on snow covered streets because sidewalks had not yet been cleared. Very few city buses in NYC were running and the signature yellow taxicabs which normally line up, awaiting passengers were a rare sighting yesterday. Those who attempted to call limousine services found their calls unanswered.

Every subway line in New York was affected. People were seen all over the city standing on platforms waiting for long-overdue trains to arrive but no one knew for sure if the trains were running at all. By mid-day on Monday, only a couple of subway lines were keeping with their regular routes. Tourists in New York on holiday were delighted at the deep snow seen coating everything from store awnings to sculpture and statues. Even locals could not resist the temptation of snapping photograph after photograph of one of the largest snowstorms to hit their fair city in sixty years.

The National Weather Service has predicted improving weather conditions for the Northeast today, but the news is of little solace to the thousands of airline travelers who have been stranded since the holiday weekend. In some cases, many will have to wait several more days before getting the chance to go home.