Storm's death toll continues to rise as widespread flooding and power cuts affect states across the US north-east
As the remnants of hurricane Irene began to dissipate over Canada, the death toll from the storm continued to rise and widespread flooding affected states across the US north-east.
The huge, slow-moving storm travelled along 1,100 miles of US coastline leaving a trail of destruction reaching far inland. At least 44 deaths have so far been attributed to Irene with about 3 million people left without power along its path.
People have struggled to get back to work as officials tried to remove fallen trees from roads and train tracks and clear flooded tunnels. Airports across the region have started to operate again but had to deal with around 9,000 flights cancelled as Irene struck.
More than 250 roads were closed in Vermont as the state experienced its worst floods for 75 years. Governor Peter Shumlin declared the state a federal disaster area as hundreds were told to leave their homes.
"We prepared for the worst and we got the worst in central and southern Vermont," Shumlin said. "We have extraordinary infrastructure damage."
On Sunday, up to 13 inches (33cm) of rain fell on states across the east coast, with more than 10 inches falling in parts of North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and upstate New York. Irene followed record rainfalls earlier this month, bursting the banks of already swollen rivers in several states. On 14 August, nearly eight inches of rain fell in New York city, the most since the National Weather Service began keeping records 116 years ago.
New York city was spared from the predicted flooding. Most of the city's subway lines were running by Monday morning. The New York Stock Exchange opened as normal, though many employees faced problems getting into work. But flooding was reported in all five boroughs, with the suburbs hardest hit and roads washed out in the Hudson river valley.
In New Jersey, officials were expecting flooding along the Passaic and Ramapo rivers until Tuesday. "The inland flooding ? has been almost as much of a concern of mine as the coastal flooding," said New Jersey governor Chris Christie. The ocean surge and rainfall has caused severe flooding in the state. Christie said the damage could reach tens of billions of dollars.
More than 1 million people lost power in New Jersey and Pennsylvania as Irene swept through. Hundreds of thousands were still without power on Monday. In Rhode Island, half the state's 1 million residents were without electricity on Sunday but most had it restored by Monday.
North Carolina suffered the biggest blow, with at least seven people killed in the state and 444,000 households left without power. "Overall, the destruction is not as severe as I was worried it might be," said North Carolina governor Bev Perdu. "But there's still lots and lots of destruction, and people's lives have been turned upside down."
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/29/hurricane-irene-trail-destruction
Gender Nuclear weapons European football Premier League Executive pay and bonuses Scotland
Walang komento:
Mag-post ng isang Komento