beng, Thanks for asking. We are currently at a bit over 1/2" from Isaac, but I'm not complaining. We also missed the higher winds, though the center passed within 20 miles or so of my home. Locally I have gotten lucky on about a weekly basis for the last several weeks. While rain is not up to drought breaking levels (still in a slow decline), nor soil replenishing levels etc, it has stabilized things for now. At least the number of dead/dormant mature trees seems to be holding steady. The rain I did get was slow and steady and every bit of it that hit the ground went into the ground. It will also give me a break from watering this weekend. I think I have had to water around my established trees every week but three,since late April. Some of the heavier rain was where it it's actually where conditions worse. Hopefully Isaac will continue to do some good. I'm sorry for all the people that were flooded, or had loses in some other way due to Isaac, but there will be a silver lining for some. Arktrees

A friend's daughter did her study abroad in Cuba last spring semester. Most folks were already living in houses made from whatever they can find. I just looked at the 36 hour forecast and it's for a Category 3, 115 mph winds! Yikes! Here's part of the discussion on Weather Underground: The objective guidance near landfall ranges from a category four from the GFDL to category two from the SHIPS model...about the error one can expect from an official forecast one to two days out. The official forecast roughly splits the difference between these guidance models...and anticipates that Ike will be a major hurricane at landfall

I breaks my heart when I see the homes underwater up to the roof line. I try to think how I would deal with it (not well I know) and how my family would recover. I still have vivid memories of the one time my family was forced to go to a shelter during a hurricane (the second strongest in Tampa's history). A huge oak tree crashed on our house without hurting any of us. Daddy piled us in the car (7 of us in a VW) and we literally floated down the street in the dark dodging what poles were left in order to get to the shelter. I feared for my dad who went back to the house during the storm (power lines down). I focused on the door all night and early morning I recognized his silhouette from afar as he walked in the shelter. I tear up even now remembering running down the hall to embrace him. Sorry, we were lucky so I shouldn't be a slobbering baby. Bless those people who have lost their homes to flood waters and give them the strength as they struggle through this crisis and carry on with their lives.

Hey, here I am! Thanks for the concern. Glad everybody is OK. We are battered, bruised, damp, & exhausted...but still here. I also would like to give a shout-out of appreciation to Michigan, Iowa, Lousianna, & Georgia. They had 5 bucket trucks, 2 pick-ups, & 14 linemen working on our street today. A big thanks to these states also for helping Mystic this week. We really needed the assistance. Idaho, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Vancouver B.C. (thanks, Ann T.!), Colorado, & Ohio. We were 97% black for the first 3 days. It's been slow going ever since. SE Connecticut was hardest hit. (See article from "The Day" below) http://www.theday.com/article/20110902/NWS12/309029912/1018 Connecticut had over 620,000 outages (about half the state). Our First Selectman (equivilent of a mayor) declared a state of emergency in Mystic that was just released yesterday. At one point nearly 85% of our roads were empassable due to flooding, down trees, and/or down power lines. I've got lots of pictures but am too exhausted to upload tonight. Will post tomorrow. Here's a video of Mystic. Our house is featured but due to living in such a public place I'd rather not point out exactly our home. Some of you may recognize it. BTW, the videographer is NOT in Mystic Seaport. He's in Historic Mystic. It's a common mistake. Mystic Seaport is a living museum of the sea located in Historic Mystic. There's also a regular "Mystic" and an "Old Mystic". Confusing. Again, glad everybody's OK. More tomorrow. /tricia Here is a link that might be useful: Youtube - Mystic, Hurricane Irene