Published: 8/29/2011 - Updated: 1 year ago

Hurricane Irene

Hurricane Irene swept up the East Coast Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 27-28, 2011 turning into a tropical storm as it reached New York. Heavy rains and high winds caused more than 4 million people to lose power. At least 21 people are dead as a result of the storm and widespread flooding. CLICK ANY IMAGE TO VIEW FULL PHOTO, START SLIDE SHOW.

Enlarge Hurricane Irene's outer bands reach Kill Devil Hills, N.C., early Saturday, Aug. 27. ASSOCIATED PRESS

Joyce Chase, of Chesapeake, Va., right, and Michael Minchew, look over the jetty at Rudee Inlet as the waves and rain from Hurricane Irene hit Virginia Beach, Va., Saturday.

Enlarge Joyce Chase, of Chesapeake, Va., right, and Michael Minchew, look over the jetty at Rudee Inlet as the waves and ... ASSOCIATED PRESS

One of two people rescued from a sailboat, right, uses a line to make their way onto the beach on Willoughby Spit in Norfolk Saturday morning after they and another person were rescued from the boat that foundered in the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. A rescuer, left, waits for s second person to exit the boat.

Enlarge One of two people rescued from a sailboat, right, uses a line to make their way onto the beach on ... ASSOCIATED PRESS

Trish Beaumont watches her husband surf off East Atlantic Beach, N.Y., before a 5 p.m. mandatory evacuation of the area due to coming Hurricane Irene on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011.

Enlarge Trish Beaumont watches her husband surf off East Atlantic Beach, N.Y., before a 5 p.m. mandatory evacuation of ... BLOCK NEWS ALLIANCE/MICHAEL HENNINGER

Enlarge Wind blows against palm trees on a beach in Ocean City, Md., on Saturday as Hurricane Irene heads toward the Maryland coast. ASSOCIATED PRESS

Enlarge Two men paddle a boat down a street flooded by rain from Hurricane Irene Saturday in Monteo, N.C. ASSOCIATED PRESS

Enlarge Two men use a boat to explore a street flooded by Hurricane Irene Saturday in Manteo, N.C. ASSOCIATED PRESS

Lower Manhattan is seen amidst dark clouds in New York Sunday. Hurricane Irene bore down on a dark and quiet New York early Sunday, bringing winds and rapidly rising seawater that threatened parts of the city. The rumble of the subway system was silenced for the first time in years, the city all but shut down for the strongest tropical lashing since the 1980s.

Enlarge Lower Manhattan is seen amidst dark clouds in New York Sunday. Hurricane Irene bore down on a dark and quiet ... ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gary Atlas, of Brighton Beach, N.Y., runs along a pier at Coney Island in New York despite the onset of Hurricane Irene in the area Sunday.

Enlarge Gary Atlas, of Brighton Beach, N.Y., runs along a pier at Coney Island in New York despite the onset ... ASSOCIATED PRESS

A bicyclist makes his way past a stranded taxi on a flooded New York City Street as Tropical Storm Irene passes through the city Sunday.

Enlarge A bicyclist makes his way past a stranded taxi on a flooded New York City Street as Tropical Storm Irene ... ASSOCIATED PRESS

Enlarge A tree is seen uprooted during Tropical Storm Irene in Long Beach, N.Y. ASSOCIATED PRESS

Enlarge Bennington Police Chief Paul Doucette looks at a collapsed bridge on Route 9 in Woodford, Vt. on Sunday. ASSOCIATED PRESS

Utility crews work to remove downed trees, mend broken utility poles and lines on Holly Street after winds from Hurricanes Irene moved through Goldsboro, N.C. on Saturday.

Enlarge Utility crews work to remove downed trees, mend broken utility poles and lines on Holly Street after winds from Hurricanes ... ASSOCIATED PRESS

This aerial photo taken Sunday shows damage to a home in Virginia Beach, Va., after a reported tornado, spurned by Hurricane Irene, ripped through the area Saturday.

Enlarge This aerial photo taken Sunday shows damage to a home in Virginia Beach, Va., after a reported tornado, spurned by ... ASSOCIATED PRESS

A man walks past a damaged store front on a boardwalk in Ocean City, Md., Sunday after Hurricane Irene churned along the Maryland coast overnight.

Enlarge A man walks past a damaged store front on a boardwalk in Ocean City, Md., Sunday after Hurricane Irene churned ... ASSOCIATED PRESS

Enlarge A man stares in disbelief at the destruction to N.C. Hwy 12 on the north edge of town Sunday in Rodanthe, N.C. ASSOCIATED PRESS

Officials survey the damage to route 12 on Hatteras Island, NC., Sunday. Hurricane Irene swept through the area Saturday cutting the roadway in five locations.

Enlarge Officials survey the damage to route 12 on Hatteras Island, NC., Sunday. Hurricane Irene swept through the area Saturday cutting ... ASSOCIATED PRESS

Enlarge A flooded road is seen in Hatteras Island, N.C., Sunday after Hurricane Irene swept through the area. ASSOCIATED PRESS

Enlarge Leonard Runnells wades into his yard Springfield, Vt., to tie down a dumpster in rising floodwaters Sunday. ASSOCIATED PRESS

Enlarge A resident of Gover Road in Millbury, Mass., watches as crews work to clear a tree downed by Tropical Storm Irene on Sunday. ASSOCIATED PRESS

A Fairfield Beach Road home is submerged in Pine Creek in Fairfield, Conn. as treacherous weather caused by Tropical Storm Irene came through the area on Sunday.

Enlarge A Fairfield Beach Road home is submerged in Pine Creek in Fairfield, Conn. as treacherous weather caused by Tropical Storm ... ASSOCIATED PRESS

A man walks on top of a wall next to a flooded highway in New Brunswick, N.J., Sunday as heavy rains left by Hurricane Irene are causing inland flooding of rivers and streams. Flood waters rose all across New Jersey on Sunday, closing roads from side streets to major highways as Irene weakened and moved on.

Enlarge A man walks on top of a wall next to a flooded highway in New Brunswick, N.J., Sunday as ... ASSOCIATED PRESS

Shirley Larkin, 74, left, of Lincoln Park, N.J., holds one of her dogs, from left, Mickey, Skipper, and Gilligan after she was brought to safety by a team of rescue officials, including Alban Ameti, a firefighter with the Lincoln Park Fire Department, right, during a boat mission in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene Sunday.

Enlarge Shirley Larkin, 74, left, of Lincoln Park, N.J., holds one of her dogs, from left, Mickey, Skipper, and Gilligan ... ASSOCIATED PRESS

Enlarge Large sections of a golf course is flooded by Hurricane Irene in southern N.J., Sunday. ASSOCIATED PRESS

Streets of Long Beach Island, N.J. are flooded after Hurricane Irene moved through the area. Rivers and creeks surged toward potentially record levels late Sunday as Irene, just the third hurricane to come ashore in New Jersey in the past 200 years, charged to the north and left behind a mess and a sense that the state got off relatively easy.

Enlarge Streets of Long Beach Island, N.J. are flooded after Hurricane Irene moved through the area. Rivers and creeks surged ... ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hurricane Irene

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