drainage system and new emergency-notification technology that officials said would make Richmond ready for future storms. Beginning in 2006, the city had spent $1.9 million on projects to mitigate the impact of major rainfalls. The city had also stepped up the frequency of its inspections and cleanings of the existing drain system, and has installed a new flash flood warning system. $8.7 million was spent to help the victims of the storm, much of it from FEMA. In Shockoe Bottom, most of the buildings were rebuilt and most of the businesses were back up and running. Some business owners say that the relief came too late. This sparked criticism of the city government in response to Hurricane Gaston. Many complained about potholes lining the roads, brick sidewalks that were a mess, and faded crosswalks. Also, because of poor drainage, streets was covered with a thick layer of silt and because of the lack of trash cans, storm debris was everywhere. Even a year later, some of the damage from Gaston still lingered. See also List of New Jersey hurricanes List of North Carolina hurricanes (2000–present) Other storms of the same name Timeline of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season References External links Gaston Gaston (2004) Gaston (2004) Gaston (2004) Gaston (2004) 2004 natural disasters in the United States Gaston