Originally Posted by Quicksilver

Not sure I know what's going on. But here are some interesting stats.

For example, during the summer of 2002, Europe was struck with unusually heavy rainstorms. They led, in fact, to what was described as "the worst central European floods in over a century.

AUSTRIA: "The provinces of Salzburg, Carinthia, and Tirol were hit especially hard by severe rainstorms. Many streets were swamped in sludge, with piles of mud and debris up to 15 meters [50 feet] high. At Vienna's Südbahnhof station, a thunderstorm caused a train accident that injured several people."

CZECH REPUBLIC: "It has been a harrowing experience for Prague. But in the provinces the tragedy has been much worse. As many as 200,000 people have been moved from their homes. Whole towns have been submerged by the floods."

FRANCE: "Twenty-three dead, 9 missing, and thousands sorely affected . . . Three people were fatally struck by lightning during Monday's storms. . . . A fireman died after rescuing a couple in distress; they had been carried away in their car by the waters."



Flooding in Germany

GERMANY: "Never before in the history of the Federal Republic have towns and villages been evacuated to such an extent as they have been now during this 'flood of the century.' Residents have fled their hometowns by the thousands. Most have done so as a precautionary measure. Some were rescued from the floods at the last minute by boat or helicopter."

ROMANIA: "About a dozen people have lost their lives since mid-July because of the storms."

RUSSIA: "At least 58 people died on the shores of the Black Sea . . . About 30 cars and buses remain on the seabed, with no search of them possible after new storm warnings were issued."