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Irene floods: Vermont and New York await Fema help Irene floods: Supplies airlifted to Vermont towns
(40 minutes later)
Rescue efforts are intensifying in flood-hit parts of the north-eastern US, as the death toll continues to rise two days after a fierce storm. Soldiers have begun airlifting emergency supplies to Vermont towns isolated by washed-away roads, as the death toll continues to rise two days Irene slammed into the US north-east.
Tropical Storm Irene killed 40 people in the US and caused billions of dollars worth of damage. More than 200 roads remain impassable in rural Vermont, hampering rescue efforts to more than a dozen towns.
In Vermont on Tuesday, soldiers were airlifting supplies to towns isolated by washed-away roads. Irene killed 40 people in the US and caused billions of dollars in damage.
President Barack Obama pledged stricken areas would have "the support they need as people recover". President Barack Obama pledged stricken areas would have "the support they need so that folks can recover".
"A lot of our fellow citizens are still reeling from Hurricane Irene and its aftermath," he told military veterans in Minneapolis."A lot of our fellow citizens are still reeling from Hurricane Irene and its aftermath," he told military veterans in Minneapolis.
"Folks are surveying the damage and some are dealing with tremendous flooding. As a government, we're going to make sure that states and communities have the support they need so that folks can recover.""Folks are surveying the damage and some are dealing with tremendous flooding. As a government, we're going to make sure that states and communities have the support they need so that folks can recover."
Mr Obama's remarks came a day after the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) warned of shortfalls in a disaster relief fund.Mr Obama's remarks came a day after the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) warned of shortfalls in a disaster relief fund.
The agency's director, Craig Fugate, is due to visit Vermont later, after warning that some projects to rebuild areas of the Midwest struck by tornados earlier in the year could be postponed.The agency's director, Craig Fugate, is due to visit Vermont later, after warning that some projects to rebuild areas of the Midwest struck by tornados earlier in the year could be postponed.
Senior administration officials were to travel to other stricken states to survey recovery efforts.Senior administration officials were to travel to other stricken states to survey recovery efforts.
'Long slog ahead''Long slog ahead'
At the White House on Monday, Mr Fugate warned that Fema funds were to be directed towards "immediate needs".At the White House on Monday, Mr Fugate warned that Fema funds were to be directed towards "immediate needs".
"We are not taking any money away from survivors," Mr Fugate said, denying that the agency was diverting funds from previous disaster survivors to fund the Irene recovery."We are not taking any money away from survivors," Mr Fugate said, denying that the agency was diverting funds from previous disaster survivors to fund the Irene recovery.
In Vermont, a small, mostly rural and mountainous state, 13 small towns and villages remained isolated on Tuesday after roads and bridges were washed away.In Vermont, a small, mostly rural and mountainous state, 13 small towns and villages remained isolated on Tuesday after roads and bridges were washed away.
Vermont National Guard troops were airlifting and trucking food, water and other emergency supplies. More than 200 roads across the state were impassable, and authorities warned Vermonters to stay clear of damaged areas. Vermont National Guard troops were airlifting and using trucks to bring in food, water and other emergency supplies. More than 200 roads across the state were impassable, and authorities warned Vermonters to stay clear of damaged areas.
"We've got a long slog ahead," Governor Peter Shumlin told MSNBC television. "Irene really whacked us hard.""We've got a long slog ahead," Governor Peter Shumlin told MSNBC television. "Irene really whacked us hard."
The state was reeling from the worst floods since 1927, and officials warned some rivers and creeks there had yet to crest. The state was reeling from its worst floods since 1927, and officials warned some rivers and creeks there had yet to crest.
Canada's stormCanada's storm
Irene passed into Canada on Sunday, after causing havoc along the US east coast from North Carolina to Vermont. Irene passed into Canada on Sunday, after causing havoc along the US East Coast from North Carolina to Vermont.
In eastern Canada, crews have begun cleaning up debris and working to restore electricity to thousands who lost power. Meanwhile, Canada's first Irene-related fatality was recorded.In eastern Canada, crews have begun cleaning up debris and working to restore electricity to thousands who lost power. Meanwhile, Canada's first Irene-related fatality was recorded.
A man was swept away in Yamaska, north-east of Montreal, as two cars plunged into a chasm created when a road was washed away, Quebec police said.A man was swept away in Yamaska, north-east of Montreal, as two cars plunged into a chasm created when a road was washed away, Quebec police said.
In the US, a tally by the Associated Press news agency found that 40 people had been killed in 11 US states, mostly because of falling trees, ocean waves, downed power lines and raging floods.In the US, a tally by the Associated Press news agency found that 40 people had been killed in 11 US states, mostly because of falling trees, ocean waves, downed power lines and raging floods.
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.
Meanwhile, nearly 100 people remained stranded in mountain towns in New York State due to washed out roads and bridges. The storm dumped 13in of rain on the state. Meanwhile, nearly 100 people remained stranded in mountain towns in New York State due to washed out roads and bridges. The storm dumped 13in (33cm) of rain on the state.
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.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.
"You're going see more damage before it starts to get better," he told reporters on Monday.
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.
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 CFA estimated.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 CFA estimated.
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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