Gaston's ambush of Richmond, Va., and its surrounding area caused five deaths and as much as $15 million in damage, officials said.
Gaston, a remnant of a more-or-less routine tropical storm that hit the Carolinas last weekend, turned into a rain machine without a warning system.
It dumped 14 inches of rain on some parts of Richmond, and as a result floodwaters roared through the city Monday.
"If you start thinking of business losses, we're talking a total of upwards of $12 to $15 million at a minimum," City Manager Calvin D. Jamison told Wednesday's Richmond Times Dispatch.
In the aftermath, public works crews shoveled tons of mud from the streets, building inspectors checked buildings and utility workers looked for gas leaks. Jamison said there were also other concerns.
"Anytime you've got that much water moving through, you've got to worry about hazmat (hazardous materials) and sanitation issues," Jamison said.
© Copyright 2004 by United Press International
