Ernesto Lumbers Ashore

Downed power lines burn at an intersection in Greenwich, Conn., early Saturday, Sept. 2, 2006. High winds from the remnants of Tropical Storm Ernesto downed trees and power lines up and down the East Coast.

A swamped row boat is seen in a pond in St. Mary's City, Md., Saturday, Sept. 2, 2006 after Tropical Depression Ernesto blew through Friday. At least nine deaths in the U.S. were blamed on Ernesto, which also killed two people in Haiti, delayed the launch of the space shuttle Atlantis and blacked out thousands of homes and businesses from North Carolina to New York.

Edgar Peirce, at left, from Little River, S.C., and Ryan Helms, right, from Cherry Grove, S.C., check out the water temperature and the size of the surf near the Cherry Grove Fishing Pier in North Myrtle Beach, S.C., as Tropical Storm Ernesto approached Thursday, Aug. 31, 2006.

Shaniqua Greene, right, and Tiffany Ward check the mail in their flooded neighborhood in Wilmington, N.C. Thursday, Aug. 31, 2006. Tropical Storm Ernesto dumped heavy rains in the area causing localized flooding.

Isolated flooding that occurred after Tropical Storm Ernesto made landfall in South Florida is seen near historic Everglades City Hall, in Everglades City, Fla., Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2006.

Deliverywoman Melinda Swinney negotiates through pallets of sandbags behind a flood-prone area behind Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2006. The sandbags are in position to be placed at doors and entrances should Crabtree Creek overflow its banks from the forecast of heavy rain associated with Tropical Storm Ernesto.

Two men walk along Fort Lauderdale Beach, Fla., after Tropical Storm Ernesto moved over south Florida Wednesday morning Aug. 30, 2006.

In an infrared satellite image provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Hurricane Center, Tropical Storm Ernesto is shown coming ashore over South Florida at about 8 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2006. With sustained winds of about 45 mph, Ernesto was described as a relatively weak tropical storm by hurricane forecaster James Franklin.

Vehicles drive by as storm clouds move through the area Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2006 in Key West, Fla. Rain began falling Tuesday as residents hurried to make last-minute preparations for Tropical Storm Ernesto, expected to strengthen before striking the vulnerable Florida Keys and populous South Florida.

A tropical storm warning flag flies below the American flag Monday, Aug. 28, 2006 at the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Key West, Fla. With state and local officials urging Floridians to be ready, Tropical Storm Ernesto edged closer to the peninsula southern Florida and the Keys were under a hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning.

Karen Blackman loads bottled water into her sport-utility vehicle at a Costco Wholesale outlet in anticipation of Tropical Storm Ernesto, Monday, Aug. 28, 2006, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. Florida residents rushed to fill their prescriptions and stood in long lines for gas, food and other supplies as officials warned people not to wait for Ernesto to become a hurricane again before taking precautions.

Eugenio Duarte, of Coconut Grove, fills up gas cans in anticipation of the arrival of Tropical Storm Ernesto in the Coconut Grove neighborhood of Miami, Monday, Aug. 28, 2006. About 400 miles of the state's densely populated Atlantic coast and the Keys were under a hurricane watch in Ernesto's path.

The space shuttle Atlantis sits on Kennedy space Center's launch Pad 39-B at sunrise Monday, Aug. 28, 2006 in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Mission managers were to decide whether to proceed with Tuesday's planned launch attempt, or stand down due to approaching Tropical Storm Ernesto.

Meteorologist Michael Brennan, upper left, and U.S. Navy Lt. Dave Roberts, Tropical Cyclone Specialist, work on computers Sunday, Aug. 27, 2006 at the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Ernesto, shown on an infrared satellite photo on the monitor in foreground, became the first hurricane of the Atlantic season Sunday with winds of 75 mph before weakening. Forecasters said it could strengthen as it headed Florida.

A man covers himself from the rain in Azua west of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Sunday, Aug. 27, 2006. Ernesto became the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, lashing Haiti's southern coast with heavy rain and threatening to strengthen as it headed toward Florida.

A line of vehicles streams out of the Florida Keys near Islamorada Sunday, Aug. 27, 2006. Visitors were ordered to leave the Keys on Sunday and Gov. Jeb Bush issued a state of emergency because of the possibility that Hurricane Ernesto could threaten much of the state.

Stock Island, Fla., resident David Kidwell loads plywood on his truck Sunday, Aug. 27, 2006 in Key West, Fla. Ernesto, the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, lashed Haiti and the Dominican Republic with heavy rain, prompting fears of mudslides and flooding. The storm was expected to move over Cuba, then bring rain and wind to southern Florida by early Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center said.

The sign outside Mary Immaculate Star of the Sea School in Key West, Fla., announces cancelled classes Sunday, Aug. 27, 2006 for Monday because of the possible effects of Hurricane Ernesto. Visitors were ordered to leave the Keys and Gov. Jeb Bush issued a state of emergency because of the possibility that Ernesto could threaten much of the state.

A man on a bicycle rides on a flooded street caused by heavy rains from what was Hurricane Ernesto in Les Cayes, Haiti, about 91 miles from Port-au-Prince, on the southern coast in Haiti on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2006.

People watch the strong waves produced by Tropical Storm Ernesto in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2006. Gathering strength over the central Caribbean, Tropical Storm Ernesto steamed toward Haiti and the Dominican Republic and became the first hurricane of the 2006 Atlantic season.