And yet, as bad as it was, it could have been much, much worse. Isabel was a Class V not that long ago.

I think that it's impact has come from it's size, and from the waterlogged condition of the region. The high tides combined with an already full Potomac and, now, lots of rainfall on the upper Potomac watershed has led to flooding. And the soft ground means that a lot of trees have fallen over...there was a huge, grand tree just near the rotunda at the University of Virginia that looks as if it's been plucked out and tossed down.

If Isabel had struck at even Class II strength, I shudder to think...