Is El Ni¤o at it again? A lot of bad things happened to a lot of people all over the country during the flood, including people right here in Monterey County. For example, people''s homes were washed away or destroyed. Others spent days in shelters, possibly extending into weeks, but did it happen to everybody? What''s the bright side?

Mike Fuller

Occupation: Cook/restaurant

Resides: Monterey

Age: 23

What do you think of El Ni¤o now? I think it''s going to get worse as a natural course of events.

What''s the bright side? Disasters like this help people prepare for other disasters and evaluate their own lives and possessions. They also develop empathy for others that are suffering.

Jess Paredes

Occupation: Retired

Resides: Monterey

Age: 71

What do you think of El Ni¤o now? It''s terrible.

Did you see anything humorous during the floods? Yes, a man canoeing down Del Monte Avenue.

Laura Ramirez

Occupation: Student

Resides: Monterey

Age: 23

How were you affected by weather last week? I couldn''t go to school at MPC because of canceled classes and my favorite radio station went out sometimes.

What do you think of El Ni¤o now? I''m thinking of its cousin La Ni¤a that''s coming next.

What''s the bright side? Trees and grass are getting lots of water.

Merlin Brown

Occupation: Mural Artist

Resides: Seaside

Age: 37

How were you affected by weather last week? I couldn''t do my outdoor painting.

In comparison to the floods of 1995, are you better or worse off? It was worse this time.

What do you think of El Ni¤o now? El Ni¤o? I went to school with her.she was wild then.and wild now.

What''s the bright side? I''ve gotten a chance to rest. Regardless of weather, as long as you come out breathing, things can be bright. My family was blessed; it could have been worse than it was.

Tracy Horton

Occupation: Canine handler

Resides: Monterey

Age: 30

How were you affected by weather last week? We had troubles getting to work from Highway 68 to 101.

Did something strike you funny? The horse that slid down the hill. It was a terrible thing, but I was so relieved that it wasn''t hurt, it struck me funny when the newscaster said that the horse was run hard and put away wet.

What''s the bright side? If I was stuck in Big Sur, I wouldn''t go to work.just kidding, now we''ll learn to prepare for next time.