The rains have stopped now, but for countless families and business owners, the damage done to their homes and establishments may prove to be a burden too heavy to bear. Storm ravaged Rhode Island has experienced the worst flooding in two centuries thanks to the back to back rainstorms that pounded the area for a good part of March.

Janet Napolitano, Homeland Security Secretary, is going to visit Rhode Island  Friday to see the damage for herself. The storm forced thousands of people out of their home – some by boat.  Power is out in many communities and not expected to be restored for several days – at least. Home and vehicles along the swollen Pawtuxet River were submerged in deep, fast moving dirty water as it crested at 20.79 feet which is 12 feet above its ordinary level of 9 feet. In Warwick, the mall was encroached in oil slicked, fast moving water and is now shut down inevitably.

The heavy and relentless rain that Rhode Island has been subjected to only adds salt to the wound as the state has been struggling with an unemployment rate at close to 13 percent  – which is higher than the national average. Unfortunately, some of the hardest hit areas were business districts. Rhode Island has a $220 billion budget deficit and for now, it is too soon to know what the total dollar damage will be from the flooding, but it is not expected to be good news, that is certain.

West Warcick consists of many low-income families and in the last storm alone, businesses in that town lost $730,000 in revenue. Each of Rhode Islands 1 million inhabitants have been asked to conserve water and electricity.  Health officials are urging those who walk in the flood water to wear protective clothing as the water is very likely  contaminated. For the residents who decided to stay in their homes, they now are now left bewildered and tired. Some residents were seen crying  and comforting one another as they stood outside their flood ravaged homes after the Pawtuxet River turned their lawns into lakes and filled basements with up to 7 feet of filthy water.