Before, During and After Hurricane Irene اعصار ايرينا ..قبل وبعد

Before, During and After Hurricane Irene

Irene came, saw and went away. By the time hurricane Irene reached New York it had been relegated to a tropical storm. This didn’t make it any less impressive though.

An employee in boards up the windows of a store in Amagansett, August 27, 2011. New York City ordered unprecedented evacuations and transit shutdowns as states from the Carolinas to Maine declared emergencies due to hurricane Irene, whose 520 mile width guaranteed a stormy weekend for tens of millions of people. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

A sign on the boarded up windows of a home near the beach reads Come on Irene, as Hurricane Irene approaches, in Asbury Park, N.J., August 27, 2011. Hurricane Irene charged up the U.S. East Coast on Saturday towards New York, shutting down the city, and millions of Americans sought shelter from a huge storm that halted transport and caused massive power blackouts. REUTERS/Chip East

People fill sand bags on Rockaway Beach in the Bell Harbor section New York City ahead of Hurricane Irene, August 27, 2011. Hurricane Irene closed in on the U.S. east coast on Saturday, lashing North Carolina with ferocious winds and triggering emergency steps including unprecedented evacuations and transit shutdowns in New York. REUTERS/Mike Segar

U.S. President Barack Obama listens to a video teleconference about Hurricane Irene during a visit to the National Response Coordination Center at FEMA Headquarters in Washington August 27, 2011. Obama held a conference call on Saturday with emergency officials to discuss Hurricane Irene, which was targeting the U.S. East Coast, the White House said. Flanking Obama are Homeland Security Secretary Jan Napolitano (L) and FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Hampstead, N.C. residents Hayden Brunner (R) and Elena Olszewski walk next to the damage at the Atlantic Food Mart in Surf City August 27, 2011. The damaged was caused early Saturday morning by winds from Hurricane Irene. Hurricane Irene howled ashore in North Carolina with heavy winds, rain and surf on Saturday on a path threatening the densely populated U.S. East Coast with flooding and power outages. REUTERS/Randall Hill

Yellow Caution tape blocks off an entrance to a closed subway station in New York, August 27, 2011. The city that never sleeps starting shutting down at midday on Saturday with nearly all businesses except a smattering of food and liquor stores closing and public transportation coming to a halt ahead of Hurricane Irene. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Debris and sand litters the road behind the town's main beach as the backside of Hurricane Irene comes ashore near Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, August 27, 2011. REUTERS/Steve Nesius

A member of the City of New York Parks and Recreation Department strings caution flags across the entrance to the Coney Island boardwalk as they prepare for Hurricane Irene to make landfall in the Brooklyn section of New York August 27, 2011. The city that never sleeps starting shutting down at midday on Saturday with nearly all businesses except a smattering of food and liquor stores closing and public transportation coming to a halt ahead of Hurricane Irene. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi

Waves sweep over a beached sailboat in Bogue Sound as the backside of Hurricane Irene comes ashore near Morehead City, North Carolina, August 27, 2011. REUTERS/Steve Nesius

A truck drives through flooded road as Hurricane Irene hits Cape Hatteras National Seashore in Salvo, North Carolina August 27, 2011. Hurricane Irene howled ashore in North Carolina with heavy winds, rain and surf on Saturday on a path threatening the densely populated U.S. East Coast with flooding and power outages. REUTERS/Jose Luis Magana

Harlem Yacht Club member David Standridge rows his dinghy ashore before the arrival of Hurricane Irene in City Island, New York August 27, 2011. The city that never sleeps starting shutting down at midday on Saturday with nearly all businesses except a smattering of food and liquor stores closing and public transportation coming to a halt ahead of Hurricane Irene. REUTERS/Claudia Parsons

A man looks at Manhattan as Hurricane Irene approaches, in New Jersey August 27, 2011. Hurricane Irene charged up the U.S. East Coast on Saturday towards New York, shutting down the city, and millions of Americans sought shelter from a huge storm that halted transport and caused massive power blackouts. REUTERS/Kena Betancur

A surfer takes advantage of the storm surge kicked up by Hurricane Irene in Montauk, New York August 27, 2011. Hurricane Irene charged up the U.S. East Coast on Saturday towards New York, shutting down the city, and millions of Americans sought shelter from a huge storm that halted transport and caused massive power blackouts. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

Tourists pose for a picture atop of sandbags stacked in preparation for Hurrucane Irene in New York's Times Square, August 27, 2011. Hurricane Irene charged up the U.S. East Coast on Saturday toward New York, shutting down the city, and millions of Americans sought shelter from a huge storm that halted transport and caused massive power blackouts. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Flood waters caused by Hurricane Irene raise on a residential street in Ocean City, Maryland, August 27, 2011. Irene, packing winds of near 80 miles per hour, was a Category 1 hurricane on the five-step Saffir-Simpson intensity scale and was churning north-northeast at 16 mph, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. REUTERS/Molly Riley

Pedestrians walk through the rain at Hoboken in New Jersey August 27, 2011. Hurricane Irene charged up the U.S. East Coast on Saturday toward New York, shutting down the city, and millions of Americans sought shelter from a huge storm that halted transport and caused massive power blackouts. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

Floodwaters caused by Hurricane Irene cover a sidewalk on a street in Ocean City, Maryland, August 27, 2011. Irene, packing winds of near 80 miles per hour, was a Category 1 hurricane on the five-step Saffir-Simpson intensity scale and was churning north-northeast at 16 mph, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. REUTERS/Molly Riley

A taxi speeds by on 7th Avenue at Times Square in New York as rains fall before Hurricane Irene hits August 27, 2011. Hurricane Irene charged up the U.S. East Coast on Saturday toward New York, shutting down the city, and millions of Americans sought shelter from a huge storm that halted transport and caused massive power blackouts. REUTERS/Peter Jones

A taxi speeds by on 42nd Street at Times Square in New York as rains fall before Hurricane Irene hits August 27, 2011. Hurricane Irene charged up the U.S. East Coast on Saturday toward New York, shutting down the city, and millions of Americans sought shelter from a huge storm that halted transport and caused massive power blackouts. REUTERS/Peter Jones

A combination photo shows the surf at (EST) 15:40 (top) and 18:50 as Hurricane Irene approaches Ocean City, Maryland August 27, 2011. Irene, packing winds of near 80 miles per hour, was a Category 1 hurricane on the five-step Saffir-Simpson intensity scale and was churning north-northeast at 16 mph, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. REUTERS/Molly Riley

Raindrops from Hurricane Irene cover a window overlooking Times Square in New York, August 27, 2011. New York City ordered unprecedented evacuations and transit shutdowns as states from the Carolinas to Maine declared emergencies due to Irene, whose 836 km (520 miles) width guaranteed a stormy weekend for tens of millions of people. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Revellers dance in the rain of Hurricane Irene in New York's Times Square August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene closed in on New York on Saturday, shutting down the city, and millions of Americans on the East Coast hunkered down as the giant storm halted transport and caused massive power blackouts. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

A man slides in the puddles from the rain of Hurricane Irene in New York's Times Square, August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene closed in on New York on Saturday, shutting down the city, and millions of Americans on the East Coast hunkered down as the giant storm halted transport and caused massive power blackouts. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Flood waters caused by Hurricane Irene rise around a gas station in the Rockaway Beach section of Queens, New York August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene battered New York with heavy winds and driving rain on Sunday, shutting down the U.S. financial capital and most populous city, halting mass transit and causing massive power blackouts as it churned slowly northward along the eastern seaboard. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi

Sixth Avenue stands virtually deserted in Manhattan as Hurricane Irene closed in on the New York City area August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene battered New York with heavy winds and driving rain on Sunday, shutting down the U.S. financial capital and most populous city, halting mass transit and causing massive power blackouts as it churned slowly northward along the eastern seaboard. REUTERS/Mike Segar

Sixth Avenue stands virtually deserted in Manhattan as Hurricane Irene closed in on the New York City area August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene battered New York with heavy winds and driving rain on Sunday, shutting down the U.S. financial capital and most populous city, halting mass transit and causing massive power blackouts as it churned slowly northward along the eastern seaboard. REUTERS/Mike Segar

A man walks in a flooded street in Hoboken in New Jersey August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene knocked out power to 3.3 million homes and businesses along the U.S. East Coast, forced two nuclear plants to shut and idled oil ports and refining as it approached New York City early on Sunday. REUTERS/Kena Betancur

People walk in a flooded street in Hoboken in New Jersey August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene knocked out power to 3.3 million homes and businesses along the U.S. East Coast, forced two nuclear plants to shut and idled oil ports and refining as it approached New York City early on Sunday. REUTERS/Kena Betancur

Captain Jon Jedlicka checks boats along a dock as it is battered by the storm surge and winds from Hurricane Irene in Montauk, New York August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene battered New York with heavy winds and driving rain on Sunday, shutting down the U.S. financial capital and most populous city, halting mass transit and causing massive power blackouts as it churned slowly northward along the eastern seaboard. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

A lighthouse-shaped building is battered by storm surge and winds from Hurricane Irene in Montauk, New York August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene battered New York with heavy winds and driving rain on Sunday, shutting down the U.S. financial capital and most populous city, halting mass transit and causing massive power blackouts as it churned slowly northward along the eastern seaboard. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

A car drives into a flooded area of lower Manhattan as Hurricane Irene closed in on the New York City area August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene battered New York with heavy winds and driving rain on Sunday, shutting down the U.S. financial capital and most populous city, halting mass transit and causing massive power blackouts as it churned slowly northward along the eastern seaboard. REUTERS/Mike Segar

A man stands in the center of a nearly deserted 7th Avenue in Manhattan as Hurricane Irene closed in on the New York City area August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene battered New York with heavy winds and driving rain on Sunday, shutting down the U.S. financial capital and most populous city, halting mass transit and causing massive power blackouts as it churned slowly northward along the eastern seaboard. REUTERS/Mike Segar

A pedestrian walks through a flooded street at Hoboken, New Jersey August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene battered New York with heavy winds and driving rain on Sunday, shutting down the U.S. financial capital and most populous city, halting mass transit and causing massive power blackouts as it churned slowly northward along the eastern seaboard. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

The double red flags signifying a hurricane still stand on the beach as waves and storm surge pound the boardwalk and the beach at first light as Hurricane Irene slams into Asbury Park, New Jersey, August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene knocked out power to 3.3 million homes and businesses along the U.S. East Coast, forced two nuclear plants to shut and idled oil ports and refining as it approached New York City early on Sunday. REUTERS/Chip East

Brian Grant (L) and Bob Bianchini, engineers from the public works department out for a safety inspection, are slammed by waves and storm surge pounding the boardwalk and the beach at first light as Hurricane Irene slams into Asbury Park, New Jersey, August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene knocked out power to 3.3 million homes and businesses along the U.S. East Coast, forced two nuclear plants to shut and idled oil ports and refining as it approached New York City early on Sunday. REUTERS/Chip East

Waves and storm surge pound the boardwalk and the beach at first light as Hurricane Irene slams into Asbury Park, New Jersey, August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene knocked out power to 3.3 million homes and businesses along the U.S. East Coast, forced two nuclear plants to shut and idled oil ports and refining as it approached New York City early on Sunday. REUTERS/Chip East

This NASA satellite image, obtained by Reuters on August 28, 2011, shows Hurricane Irene on August 27, 2011 at 10:10 a.m. EDT over the U.S. east coast in the Atlantic Ocean. Irene's outer bands had already extended into New England. Hurricane Irene knocked out power to 3.3 million homes and businesses along the U.S. East Coast, forced two nuclear plants to shut and idled oil ports and refining as it approached New York City early on Sunday. Picture taken August 27, 2011. REUTERS/NASA-NOAA/Handout

Bob Bianchini (L), Brian Grant (C) and Jim Freeman (R), engineers from the public works department out for a safety inspection, are slammed by waves and storm surge pounding the boardwalk and the beach at first light as hurricane Irene slams into Asbury Park, N.J., August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene knocked out power to 3.3 million homes and businesses along the U.S. East Coast, forced two nuclear plants to shut and idled oil ports and refining as it approached New York City early on Sunday. REUTERS/Chip East

Sand covers the board walk after Hurricane Irene passed through in Ocean City, Maryland August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene battered New York with heavy winds and driving rain on Sunday, knocking out power and flooding some of Lower Manhattan's deserted streets even as it lost some of its strength. Irene was downgraded to a tropical storm on Sunday morning but was still sending waves crashing onto shorelines and flooding coastal suburbs. REUTERS/Molly Riley

The East River breaches the tops of its banks in lower Manahattan as Hurricane Irene closes in on New York City August 28, 2011. REUTERS/Cary Horowitz

A boy floats on a newspaper box in a flooded street in the Soho section of Manhattan after Hurricane Irene passed over the New York City area August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene battered New York with heavy winds and driving rain on Sunday, knocking out power and flooding some of Lower Manhattan's deserted streets even as it lost some of its strength. Irene was downgraded to a tropical storm on Sunday morning but was still sending waves crashing onto shorelines and flooding coastal suburbs. REUTERS/Mike Segar

Metropolitan Transit Authority personnel pump out a flooded area of the 148th Street Yard in New York August 28, 2011, after Hurricane Irene moved through Manhattan. Hurricane Irene battered New York with heavy winds and driving rain on Sunday, knocking out power and flooding some of Lower Manhattan's deserted streets even as it lost some of its strength. REUTERS/Courtesy of MTA/Handout

A road is seen underwater during Tropical Storm Irene in the Rockaway beach section of Queens, New York August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene lashed New York with heavy winds and driving rain on Sunday, flooding some of Lower Manhattan's deserted streets and large parts of the northeast, but the feared major devastation was avoided as the storm lost some of its punch. Irene was downgraded to a tropical storm on Sunday morning after marching up the East Coast, leaving 11 dead, as many as 3.6 million customers without electricity, forcing the closure of New York's mass transit system, and the cancellation of thousands of flights. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi

A woman talks on her phone as she surveys the damage from Tropical Storm Irene along the boardwalk in the Rockaway beach section of Queens, New York August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene lashed New York with heavy winds and driving rain on Sunday, flooding some of Lower Manhattan's deserted streets and large parts of the northeast, but the feared major devastation was avoided as the storm lost some of its punch. Irene was downgraded to a tropical storm on Sunday morning after marching up the East Coast, leaving 11 dead, as many as 3.6 million customers without electricity, forcing the closure of New York's mass transit system, and the cancellation of thousands of flights. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi

Waves break along the pier which was damaged during Hurricane Irene, in Ocean City, Maryland August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene lashed New York with heavy winds and driving rain on Sunday, flooding some of Lower Manhattan's deserted streets and large parts of the northeast, but the feared major devastation was avoided as the storm lost some of its punch. Irene was downgraded to a tropical storm on Sunday morning after marching up the East Coast, leaving 11 dead, as many as 3.6 million customers without electricity, forcing the closure of New York's mass transit system, and the cancellation of thousands of flights. REUTERS/Molly Riley

A beach ball sits idle near the seawall at New York City's Battery Park with New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty beyond after Hurricane Irene passed over the New York City area August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene battered New York with heavy winds and driving rain on Sunday, knocking out power and flooding some of Lower Manhattan's deserted streets even as it lost some of its strength. Irene was downgraded to a tropical storm on Sunday morning but was still sending waves crashing onto shorelines and flooding coastal suburbs. REUTERS/Mike Segar

Ken Smith clears the street in front of his family's house after Tropical Storm Irene hit the Rockaway beach section of Queens, New York August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene surged through New York City on Sunday flooding waterfronts and low-lying areas, but America's most populous city avoided the mass devastation some had feared. Irene was downgraded to a tropical storm on Sunday morning and was headed next to pass over parts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi

A man walks into the surf to photograph the stormy ocean in Sagaponack, New York August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene battered New York with heavy winds and driving rain on Sunday, knocking out power and flooding some of Lower Manhattan's deserted streets even as it lost some of its strength. Irene was downgraded to a tropical storm on Sunday morning but was still sending waves crashing onto shorelines and flooding coastal suburbs. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

A couple walks in a flooded street in Hoboken New Jersey August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene swept along the New Jersey shore early on Sunday, knocking down trees, leaving thousands of people without electrical power and causing flooding. REUTERS/Kena Betancur

Patrons of the Mad River bar watch as the flooded Schuylkill River covers Main Street, in Manayunk, a suburb of Philadelphia, August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene was downgraded to a tropical storm on Sunday morning after marching up the East Coast, leaving 11 dead, as many as 3.6 million customers without electricity, forcing the closure of New York's mass transit system, and the cancellation of thousands of flights. REUTERS/Jason Reed

Joan Porco reacts as she watches storm fueled waves break on shore in Montauk, New York August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene battered New York with heavy winds and driving rain on Sunday, knocking out power and flooding some of Lower Manhattan's deserted streets even as it lost some of its strength. Irene was downgraded to a tropical storm on Sunday morning but was still sending waves crashing onto shorelines and flooding coastal suburbs. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

After checking on his family's home, Henry Walker (R) plays around with friends Keron Roundtree (L) and Barry Gurley (C) as rapidly rising floodwaters covered in leaking kerosene fill a neighborhood in the South Ward district of Trenton, N.J. because of rain from Hurricane Irene August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene swept along the New Jersey shore early on Sunday, knocking down trees, leaving thousands of people without electrical power and causing flooding. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie cautioned residents and visitors, hundreds of thousands of whom were ordered to leave vulnerable shore towns, to stay away until roads were clear. REUTERS/Chip East

Floodwaters block Highway 29 south, near the the capital complex in Trenton, N.J., due to flooding of the Delaware River because of rain from Hurricane Irene, August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene swept along the New Jersey shore early on Sunday, knocking down trees, leaving thousands of people without electrical power and causing flooding. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie cautioned residents and visitors, hundreds of thousands of whom were ordered to leave vulnerable shore towns, to stay away until roads were clear. REUTERS/Chip East

A woman walks off the Long Beach Park beach as the sun sets and the sky clears from Hurricane Irene in Long Beach, New York August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene battered New York with heavy winds and driving rain on Sunday, shutting down the U.S. financial capital and most populous city, halting mass transit and causing massive power blackouts as it churned slowly northward along the eastern seaboard. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

People photograph the setting sun in Long Beach Park as the sky clears from Hurricane Irene in Long Beach, New York August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene battered New York with heavy winds and driving rain on Sunday, shutting down the U.S. financial capital and most populous city, halting mass transit and causing massive power blackouts as it churned slowly northward along the eastern seaboard. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

The sun sets over a flooded parking lot as the sky clears from Hurricane Irene in Long Beach, New York August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene battered New York with heavy winds and driving rain on Sunday, shutting down the U.S. financial capital and most populous city, halting mass transit and causing massive power blackouts as it churned slowly northward along the eastern seaboard. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

Hotel employees work to clear water from a flooded area of the Allegria Hotel after flooding from Hurricane Irene in Long Beach, New York August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene battered New York with heavy winds and driving rain on Sunday, shutting down the U.S. financial capital and most populous city, halting mass transit and causing massive power blackouts as it churned slowly northward along the eastern seaboard. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

With the skyline of New York in the background, people fly a kite at the Erie-Lackawanna Park along Hudson river after the pass of Hurricane Irene at Hoboken in New Jersey August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene swept along the New Jersey shore early on Sunday, knocking down trees, leaving thousands of people without electrical power and causing flooding. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie cautioned residents and visitors, hundreds of thousands of whom were ordered to leave vulnerable shore towns, to stay away until roads were clear. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

A rainbow appears over a building as sand is blown down Long Beach Park as the sun sets and the sky clears from Hurricane Irene in Long Beach, New York August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene battered New York with heavy winds and driving rain on Sunday, shutting down the U.S. financial capital and most populous city, halting mass transit and causing massive power blackouts as it churned slowly northward along the eastern seaboard