Virginia a State of Emergency After Tropical Storm Stalls, Brings Torrential Rain; Three Killed
Carnes Eiserhardt, right, looks for information to find out who owns a Ford Explorer that was crushed by a tree blown over by high winds from Tropical Storm Gaston Sunday, Aug. 29, 2004, in Charleston, S.C. (AP Photo/Paula Illingworth)
08-31-2004 5:27 AM
By LARRY O'DELL, Associated Press Writer
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RICHMOND, Va. -- A state of emergency was declared as Tropical Storm Gaston brought torrential rain through central Virginia, sending several feet of rushing water that picked up cars and trucks in the capital and sent them smashing into buildings. At least three people were killed.
The declaration made state resources available and put the Virginia National Guard on standby for possible duty. Meanwhile, Hurricane Frances strengthened over the Atlantic to a Category 4 storm.
Gov. Mark R. Warner was scheduled Tuesday to tour Richmond, which was inundated with more than 11 inches of rain in 10 hours, surprising forecasters who had expected the storm to move through more quickly. The deluge turned streets into rivers and trapped people in buildings.
"It looks like rapids outside our building," said Nick Baughan, who was stranded with about 20 other people on the second floor of the Bottoms Up pizza restaurant. "All of our cars have floated away."
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