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Irene: Death toll nears 40 as recovery begins Irene: Death toll nears 40 as recovery begins
(about 2 hours later)
Tropical Storm Irene has killed 38 people, and authorities warn that flooding could continue for up to three days in northern US states. Tropical Storm Irene has killed 38 people in the US, and authorities warn that flooding could continue for up to three days in northern US states.
More than five million people remain without power, while Vermont is reeling from its worst floods in many decades.More than five million people remain without power, while Vermont is reeling from its worst floods in many decades.
Insurance claims could top $7bn (£4.3bn), the Consumer Federation of America estimated.Insurance claims could top $7bn (£4.3bn), the Consumer Federation of America estimated.
The brunt of Irene's impact was felt by towns and suburbs from North Carolina to Vermont. Irene has passed into Canada, after causing havoc on the US east coast from North Carolina to Vermont.
Driving rains and flood tides damaged homes and cut power to more than three million people in New Jersey, Connecticut and New York alone.Driving rains and flood tides damaged homes and cut power to more than three million people in New Jersey, Connecticut and New York alone.
Further damage predicted Vermont governor lashes out
The storm passed over the east coast at the weekend and has now moved over the border into Canada's north-eastern provinces. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will visit North Carolina and Virginia on Tuesday to survey the storm damage.
US authorities have warned the impact of the storm will be felt for some time and that certain rivers had yet to crest, with further flooding expected over the next two to three days. Federal Emergency Management Agency head Craig Fugate will head to Vermont.
In New York, which escaped the worst of Irene's fury, transport resumed on Monday. In north-eastern Canada the first possible fatality has been recorded.
But Governor Andrew Cuomo said dozens of bridges and roadways would need to be repaired and that some of the state's rivers had yet to crest from flooding. A man was swept away in Yamaska, northeast of Montreal, when two cars plunged into a chasm created when a road was washed away, Quebec police said.
"You're going see more damage before it starts to get better," he told reporters. Nearly a quarter of a million people in Quebec, which saw winds as high as 62mph (100km/h), lost power on Sunday night.
The states south of New York, where Irene struck at hurricane-strength on Saturday and Sunday have begun the arduous task of cleaning up, assessing the damage and counting the dead. An Associated Press news agency tally found 38 people had been killed in 11 US states, mostly because of falling trees, ocean waves, downed power lines and raging floods caused by the storm.
Vermont lashed In the rural state of Vermont, the last hit before Irene reached Canada, the storm washed away bridges and swamped the town of Brattleboro.
In the rural state of Vermont, the last hit before Irene passed into Canada, the storm washed away bridges and swamped the town of Brattleboro.
Touring the town, Governor Peter Shumlin criticised media coverage for focusing on New York, saying: "We're not Manhattan, but we have human lives here in Vermont, too."Touring the town, Governor Peter Shumlin criticised media coverage for focusing on New York, saying: "We're not Manhattan, but we have human lives here in Vermont, too."
Authorities asked people to avoid travelling in the state, and warned of significant flooding, damaged roads and downed power lines. "It breaks your heart to see the extraordinary devastation that we're seeing here in Vermont," he added.
The storm caused a section of a ski lodge to collapse in the town of Killington, where as many as 300 people were stranded on Monday. Hundreds stranded
Connecticut Governor Daniel Malloy said on Monday that in his state more homes were without power as a result of the storm than at any other time in the state's modern history. Three deaths in Vermont have been blamed on the storm.
In many areas electricity will not be restored for the rest of the week, Mr Malloy added. In the town of Waterbury, Irene closed the Vermont Emergency Management headquarters and the Vermont State Hospital, where some 50 patients were moved to other facilities.
A tally by the Associated Press news agency found 38 people had been killed in 11 states, mostly because of falling trees, ocean waves, downed power lines and raging floods caused by the storm. Authorities asked people to avoid travelling in the state, which received 11 inches (33cm) of rain, and warned of significant flooding, damaged roads and downed power lines.
Claims for wind damage are expected to be one sixth of the total sum from Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and claims for flood damage one tenth, the Consumer Federation of America estimated. The storm caused part of a ski lodge to collapse in the town of Killington, where as many as 300 guests and 100 staff were stranded on Monday due to flooded roads.
As it moved north-east, Irene was downgraded to a tropical storm and then a post-tropical cyclone. Meanwhile, nearly 100 people remained stranded in mountain towns in New York State due to washed out roads and bridges. The storm dumped 13in (30cm) of rain on the state.
The National Hurricane Center in Miami said an increase in speed was expected over the next couple of days, with the centre of the storm moving over eastern Canada on Monday. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said dozens of bridges and roadways would need to be repaired and that some of the state's rivers had yet to crest from flooding.
A tropical storm warning for Canada was likely to be lifted on Monday, it added. "You're going see more damage before it starts to get better," he told reporters.
Back to work In New York City, which escaped the worst of Irene's fury on Sunday, the subway network and three main airports all reopened on Monday.
The storm, downgraded from a hurricane, passed New York on Sunday.
More than 300,000 people evacuated from low-lying areas in New York City are now able to return home.More than 300,000 people evacuated from low-lying areas in New York City are now able to return home.
New Yorkers were back to work on Monday, with the city's subway network and its three main airports all reopened. Counting the dead
More than half the commuter rail lines running into the city were suspended or delayed amid lingering flooding and mudslides. Some Americans who bought candles, canned food and other emergency provisions in recent days demanded refunds on Monday, claiming Irene's threat had been exaggerated.
The US air transport network began slowly clearing a backlog after cancellations at the weekend. More than 1,400 flights were cancelled on Monday, href="http://flightaware.com/news/article/Hurricane-Irene-Impact-on-Airline-Travel-in-United-States/158 " >according to Flightaware.com, compared with 7,804 on Sunday. Others held post-hurricane parties to use up the extra supplies.
Airports in New York were worst hit by cancellations, but Philadelphia and Boston airports were also affected. Claims for wind damage are expected to be one sixth of the total sum from Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and claims for flood damage one tenth, the Consumer Federation of America estimated.
In Philadelphia, officials lifted the city's first state of emergency since 1986. Several buildings were destroyed by the storm, but there were no deaths or injuries. Connecticut Governor Daniel Malloy said on Monday that more homes were without power as a result of the storm in his state than at any other time in its modern history.
Further south in North Carolina, Governor Beverly Perdue said some areas of the state were still unreachable. TV footage showed fallen trees and power lines. States south of New York, where Irene struck at hurricane strength on Saturday and Sunday, have begun cleaning up, assessing the damage and counting the dead.
Irene was downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm and then a post-tropical cyclone.
North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue said some areas of the state were still unreachable. TV footage showed fallen trees and power lines.
Officials in Virginia have begun the clear-up, but say the damage was not as bad as feared.Officials in Virginia have begun the clear-up, but say the damage was not as bad as feared.
Are you in Canada or the US? Have you been affected by the storm? Are you involved in the clear-up effort? Send us your comments:Are you in Canada or the US? Have you been affected by the storm? Are you involved in the clear-up effort? Send us your comments:
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