Deaths, Flooding, Rough Winds as Storm Batters East Coast

Nov. 13, 2009 — -- Though the remnants of Tropical Storm Ida are expected to weaken soon, several people have died as severe weather continues to batter the U.S. Atlantic Coast with coastal flooding, strong winds and pounding surf.

Heavy rains and 75 mph winds caused 150 car accidents in Virginia, leaving three people dead. Hurricane-strength wind gusts toppled power lines and trees, leaving one man dead in North Carolina.

On Friday morning, the U.S. Coast Guard called off a search for three commercial fishermen who were aboard the fishing boat Sea Tractor. The vessel sank Wednesday off Cape May, N.J., and the men on board -- Kenneth Rose Jr., the 49-year-old captain of the craft; his 75-year-old father, Kenneth Sr.; and 55-year-old crew member Larry Forrest -- are presumed dead.

Searchers had found an empty life raft in the water.

Kenneth Rhodes was just a mile away from the boat when the storm hit.

"Kenny was one of the greatest fishermen. I loved him like a brother, and I'll miss him," Rhodes said with tears in his eyes.

The storm churned surf as far north as New York, where a surfer drowned in the rough waters.

Michael Eckert, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said the storm got some of its energy from the weakening Ida.

"The strong winds are pushing water from the Atlantic Ocean into the beaches, so we are getting a lot of beach erosion, coastal flooding," he said.

Tidal surges in Virginia have topped 7 feet -- rivaling the 2003 record set by Hurricane Isabel -- and communities along the New Jersey shore are bracing for the storm. Beach erosion is a key concern there.

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine declared a state of emergency as flooding, downed trees and closed roads forced schools and businesses to close in some coastal areas.

The storm made landfall with more power than Ida, dumping more than a foot of rain and leaving up to 4 feet of water on some Virginia roads. Rescue crews were out in force to help stranded residents evacuate.