Damages Caused by Hurricane Irene

According to ABC News, it is estimated that anywhere from $7 to $13 billion dollars in damage were caused by Hurricane Irene. This hurricane caused power outages, disrupted transportation services and created widespread flooding.

Power outages

In the midst of Hurricane Irene, more than 3 million citizens were stuck without any electricity or power at all. Virginia and North Carolina reported the highest number of power outages out of all of the states experiencing power effects from the hurricane storm.

Transportation services

In addition to citizens all along the East Coast losing power and going without electricity for days, transportation services were also interrupted, stalled and completely cancelled for many travelers and vacationers in the eastern US. More than 11,000 flights were cancelled during Hurricane Irene, in addition to trolleys and trains along the East Coast, leaving passengers and vacationers stranded at airports and unfamiliar cities for days. Mass-transit services in both New Jersey and New York were also cancelled entirely, leaving residents of each of the states stranded at home in many cases.

Vermont flooding

Floods are a frequent consequence of hurricanes, and even in the northern part of the East Coast, flooding from then-Tropical Storm Irene caused death and damages. The flooding in Vermont was widespread, causing FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to respond in force.

Hurricane Irene caused devastation along the entirety of the eastern United States. This serves as a reminder that if you live in a hurricane-prone area, you should prepare for this kind of emergency.