Environment

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Titus Boyd talks Sept. 9, 2011, about having to evacuate his bedridden 87-year-old mother from her home on Arlington Terrace in the Huntington neighborhood of Alexandria, Va., after heavy rains flooded the region. "All we got is each other" Mr. Boyd said. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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Traffic on Crown Valley Parkway in Mission Viejo, Calif., is gridlocked Sept. 8, 2011, at rush hour after the massive power outage left most of south Orange County without electricity, shutting down all of the traffic signals. (Associated Press/Los Angeles Times)

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A man on a bicycle passes by a large ship on Sept. 9, 2011, in Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture in northeastern Japan. The ship was washed ashore six months earlier by a devastating tsunami. (Associated Press)

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An Alexandria firefighter boat crew heads towards Strayer university on Eisenhower avenue, where students are trapped due to rising flood waters in Alexandria, Va., on Thursday, September 8, 2011. Rain associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee caused flash floods. (Andrew S. Geraci/The Washington Times)

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Rescue workers block road access as flood waters rise on Eisenhower Avenue in Alexandria, Va., on Thursday, September 8, 2011. Rain associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee caused flash floods. (Andrew S. Geraci/The Washington Times)

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Passengers stranded by flood waters get out of their vehicles to check for possible ways to make it to high ground in Alexandria, Va., on September 8, 2011. Rain associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee caused flash floods. (Andrew S. Geraci/The Washington Times)

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Cars lay abandoned under the I-495 ramp due to a flash flood that occured in Alexandria, Va., on Thursday, September 8, 2011. Rain associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee caused flash floods. (Andrew S. Geraci/The Washington Times)

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A large section of Route 103 on the Glenville, N.Y. side of Lock 9 collapsed into the Mohawk River due to rising flood water Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011. (AP Photo/The Daily Gazette, Peter R. Barber) TROY, SCHENECTADY; SARATOGA SPRINGS; ALBANY AND AMSTERDAM OUT

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The off ramp to route 322 East in Hershey Pa. was severely damaged by the excessive rain fall Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011. The road is a major access point to the Penn State Milton Hershey Medical Center. This and other flood damage is inhibiting emergency response to the Hospital. (AP Photo/Daniel Shanken)

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A neighborhood in Lower Swatara Twp. is flooded by The Swatara Creek on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011. Nearly 100,000 people from New York to Maryland were ordered to flee the rising Susquehanna River on Thursday as the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee dumped more rain across the Northeast, closing major highways and socking areas still recovering from Hurricane Irene. (AP Photo/The Patriot-News, Christine Baker)

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Trout Run, Pa. is partially flooded by the Lycoming Creek on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011. Nearly 100,000 people from New York to Maryland were ordered to flee the rising Susquehanna River on Thursday as the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee dumped more rain across the Northeast, closing major highways and socking areas still recovering from Hurricane Irene. (AP Photo/Williamsport Sun-Gazette, Mark Nance)

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West Harrisburg Pike route 230, and surrounding neighborhoods in Lower Swatara Twp. are flooded by the remains of Tropical Storm Lee on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011. Nearly 100,000 people from New York to Maryland were ordered to flee the rising Susquehanna River on Thursday as the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee dumped more rain across the Northeast, closing major highways and socking areas still recovering from Hurricane Irene. (AP Photo/The Patriot-News, Christine Baker)

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Spectators defy yellow tape at the entrance of the bridge to take a closer look at the destroyed section of the "Slabtown Bridge" in Eldred Township, Lycoming County Pa. on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011. Nearly 100,000 people from New York to Maryland were ordered to flee the rising Susquehanna River on Thursday as the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee dumped more rain across the Northeast, closing major highways and socking areas still recovering from Hurricane Irene. (AP Photo/Williamsport Sun-Gazette, Mark Nance)

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A U.S. flag hangs near a picket fence as floodwaters cover the front yard of a home, Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011, in Lincoln Park, N.J. Residents along the Passaic River are still cleaning up after Irene with the remnants of Lee expected to drop anywhere from two to five inches of rain. Forecasters say New Jersey's streams and rivers remain at or in flood stage. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)