# 5790
Although not the nightmare storm that many envisioned, Hurricane Irene has left between 2 and 3 million people in her path without power, has damaged homes, businesses and local infrastructure, produced serious flooding, and has reportedly claimed the lives of at least 9 people over the past couple of days.
And while a minimal hurricane as of the 5am update from the NHC, she isn’t done yet. She will pass over Long Island later this morning before moving inland over New England this afternoon.
The National Hurricane Center describes the storm’s condition this morning:
HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 125 MILES...205 KM...FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 320 MILES...520 KM. LA GUARDIA AIRPORT IN NEW YORK CITY RECENTLY REPORTED A SUSTAINED WIND OF 41 MPH...67 KM/H...AND A WIND GUST OF 64 MPH...104 KM/H. A SUSTAINED WIND OF 40 MPH...65 KM/H...AND A WIND GUST OF 58 MPH...93 KM/H...WERE ALSO RECENTLY REPORTED AT JOHN F. KENNEDY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN NEW YORK CITY.
WATER LEVELS HAVE BEEN RISING RAPIDLY IN ADVANCE OF THE CENTER OF IRENE...WITH RECENTLY OBSERVED STORM SURGE VALUES OF 3.9 FEET AT SANDY HOOK NEW JERSEY...3.8 FEET AT NEW YORK HARBOR...AND 3.1 FEET AT CAPE MAY NEW JERSEY.
Reports out of Norfolk, Va. indicated they saw a nearly 8 foot surge in some areas. It may be a day or two before we can get reliable estimates from along the North Carolina coast.
Typical of the reports this morning: In Pennsylvania, more than 200,000 are without power, and according to PSE&G, it may take several days to restore electricity.
PSE&G Hurricane Irene Update: Aug. 28, 2011 at 5:30 a.m.
-- About 213,000 PSE&G customers are without power at this time statewide. The number of outages continues to climb as Hurricane Irene moves north. The utility, which provides electric service to 2.2 million customers, is estimating that power restoration may take several days to a week
There have also been reports of possible tornadoes spun up from Irene damaging homes and felling trees in Delaware, and New York City and many surrounding areas have been under tornado warnings and/or watches overnight.
While obviously not catastrophic, it will take a few days before we get a decent idea of just how much damage Irene has actually caused.
Meanwhile, the NHC indicates there are a couple of new areas of suspicion brewing in the Atlantic, and we are just now coming up to the most active month in the Hurricane season.
Reason enough to make sure that you, your family, and your business are ready in case another storm heads in our direction.
