Hurricane Season Wrap-Up

Finally, a news story to remind us about the huge clean-up problems still remaining from hurricanes Dolly, Gustav, and Ike. Lots of questions, no easy answers. Certainly it was another rough year for Texas (not to mention Cuba).

A High Tide in a Low City

Residents of Venice, Italy dealt with widespread flooding from the sea yesterday. Strong winds helped to raise the sea to its highest level since 1986. Although parts of the city are perennially submerged and served by water buses and gondolas, the rise of waters to about 5 feet above normal exceeded the limits of the city's transportation system and put almost all of the city's streets under water. As the normal astronomical low tide set in later in the day, conditions rapidly returned to normal and clean-up began.