Environment

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Mirna Quinteros wrings a wet shirt on Sept. 9, 2011, as she and others help to clean neighbor Alex Reyes' flooded basement on Arlington Terrace in the Huntington neighborhood of Alexandria, Va., after heavy rains pounded the region. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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A postal worker delivers a package to Mirna Quinteros (center) on Sept. 9, 2011, as she and Rosa Mendoza help to clean clothes from neighbor Alex Reyes' flooded basement on Arlington Terrace in the Huntington neighborhood of Alexandria, Va., after heavy rains pounded the region. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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A man walks Sept. 9, 2011, in a steady rain through Arlington Terrace in the Huntington neighborhood of Alexandria, Va., as residents attempted to clean up after heavy rains flooded the area. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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Dan Chavka talks Sept. 9, 2011, with building inspectors on his front porch as he and other residents attempted to clean up from the flooding on Arlington Terrace in the Huntington neighborhood of Alexandria, Va., after heavy rains pounded the region. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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A home on Arlington Terrace in the Huntington neighborhood of Alexandria, Va. is labeled on Sept. 9, 2011, with a sticker deeming by authorities as unsafe for occupancy or usage after heavy rains flooded the region. The stickers were posted on a number of houses as a precautionary measure until proper inspections can be made. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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Rosa Mendoza (left) and Mirna Quinteros help clean clothes from neighbor Alex Reyes' flooded basement on Arlington Terrace in the Huntington neighborhood of Alexandria, Va. on Sept. 9, 2011, after heavy rains pounded the region. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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Homberto Mendoza takes a breather Sept. 9, 2011, while helping friend Alex Reyes clean out the flooded basement at Mr. Reyes' Arlington Terrace home in the Huntington neighborhood of Alexandria, Va., after heavy rains pounded the region. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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In ankle-deep water, Marlon Reyes helps clean the basement of his brother's house on Arlington Terrace in the Huntington neighborhood of Alexandria, Va., on Sept. 9, 2011, after heavy rains flooded the region. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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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)