(Washington, DC) The District of Columbia will rescind at 6 pm today the public emergency it declared Thursday, August 31, 2006.  The city’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) stood down at 3 pm.

City officials said the effects of the storm were much less severe than originally predicted.  However, DC Emergency Management Agency’s (DCEMA) Emergency Communications Center (ECC), which is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, will augment its regular staff with additional staff from the Mayor’s Call Center.

The National Weather Service (NWS) short term forecast indicates the heavier rain bands associated with the remnants of Tropical System Ernesto have moved to the north into central Pennsylvania and Central New Jersey.

NWS has cancelled the coastal flood warning for the District and is predicting a slight chance of showers tonight before 8 pm with only a 20 percent chance of precipitation.  Tomorrow’s forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with a high near 78 degrees and northwest winds between 3 and 7 miles per hour.

Residents should report downed trees on city property to (202) 727-1000.  Power outages should be reported to Pepco at 1-877-PEPCO-62.  Downed wires or life threatening electrical system situations should be reported to Pepco at (202) 872-3432.