Storm weakens
August 29, 2011
US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano declared on Sunday that the worst was over for much of the US East Coast after tropical storm Irene weakened as it swept across New York.
"It's safe to say that the worst of the storm up to and including New York and New Jersey has passed," Napolitano said, asserting that the evacuation order of some 370,000 New Yorkers had saved lives.
Heavy winds and driving rain lashed New York on Sunday leaving several areas flooded. Subways, airports and bus services all remained shut down.
Vermont state was also on the receiving end of heavy rains late Sunday, forcing the evacuation of hundreds as rivers burst their banks and power to thousands of homes was cut off.
The storm was initially categorized as a hurricane but continued to lose power after making landfall and was downgraded to a tropical storm.
Forecasters maintained, however, that Irene remained powerful and posed a serious risk to communities in its path.
Death toll rises
Emergency officials said that the death toll across six US states had risen to 14 after the storm made first landfall in North Carolina on Saturday.
Six deaths were recorded in North Carolina, three in Virginia, two in New Jersey and one each in Connecticut, Florida and Maryland.
Up to 3.6 million people were left without electricity after power lines were damaged as the storm travelled up the coast.
On Friday US President Barack Obama declared a state of emergency for North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts.
But US government forecasters say that when the storm made a second landfall in New Jersey early on Sunday it carried sustained winds of 130 kilometers (75 miles) an hour, barely enough to qualify for hurricane status.
Flights in and out of New York remained grounded on Sunday after airlines cancelled more than 7,000 departures. Flight delays as a result of the disruption were expected to last until at least Monday.
Author: Charlotte Chelsom-Pill, Darren Mara (dpa, dapd, Reuters, AFP, AP)
Editor: Nancy Isenson