Ernesto's Path of Destruction

A vendor recovers a plastic tarp after vendors were caught unprepared when high waves dragged their beach stalls into the sea in Veracruz, Mexico, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012. Tropical Storm Ernesto headed into Mexico's southern Gulf coast as authorities in the flood-prone region prepared shelters, army troops and rescue personnel for drenching rains. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez) (AP2012)

A vendor recovers a cooler after vendors were caught unprepared when high waves dragged their beach stalls into the sea in Veracruz, Mexico, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012. Tropical Storm Ernesto headed into Mexico's southern Gulf coast as authorities in the flood-prone region prepared shelters, army troops and rescue personnel for drenching rains. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez) (AP2012)

Coconut vendors try to recover their goods after they were caught unprepared when high waves dragged their beach stalls into the sea in Veracruz, Mexico, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012. Tropical Storm Ernesto headed into Mexico's southern Gulf coast as authorities in the flood-prone region prepared shelters, army troops and rescue personnel for drenching rains. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez) (AP2012)

Vendors that were caught unprepared try to recover their belongings after high waves dragged their beach stalls into the sea in Veracruz, Mexico, Thursday Aug. 9, 2012. Tropical Storm Ernesto headed into Mexico's southern Gulf coast as authorities in the flood-prone region prepared shelters, army troops and rescue personnel for drenching rains. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez) (AP2012)

Vendors that were caught unprepared try to recover their chairs after high waves dragged their beach stalls into the sea in Veracruz, Mexico, Thursday Aug. 9, 2012. Tropical Storm Ernesto headed into Mexico's southern Gulf coast as authorities in the flood-prone region prepared shelters, army troops and rescue personnel for drenching rains. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez) (AP2012)

A man walks past the roofs of beach stalls that were blown by high winds in Veracruz, Mexico, Thursday Aug. 9, 2012. Tropical Storm Ernesto headed into Mexico's southern Gulf coast as authorities in the flood-prone region prepared shelters, army troops and rescue personnel for drenching rains. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez) (AP2012)

This NOAA satellite image taken Wednesday, August 08, 2012 at 01:45 PM EDT shows Tropical Storm Ernesto spinning over the extreme southern Bay of Campeche. This system remains at tropical storm strength with maximum winds up to 45 mph and produces heavy rains and strong thunderstorms across southern Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula. In the US, a trough of low pressure develops over the Central Plains and produces a front that kicks up showers and thunderstorms across the Mid-Mississippi River Valley and Upper Midwest. Severe thunderstorm development is likely in these areas with main threats being strong winds and large hail. In the East, a frontal boundary slowly moves offshore, but allows for showers and thunderstorms to persist for the Carolinas and Gulf states. (AP PHOTO/WEATHER UNDERGROUND)