Hurricane Irene: By the numbers

Irene didn't destroy Manhattan, but it did its share of serious damage. Here, a numerical snapshot of the first big hurricane of 2011

Residents view the remains of a Nags Head, N.C., cottage destroyed by Hurricane Irene on Saturday: The storm's total damage, including lost economic activity, is estimated to be $40 billion.
(Image credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

After slapping the East Coast from North Carolina to Vermont for two wet, windy days, Hurricane Irene slipped into Canada Sunday evening as a weakened tropical storm. The damage was less severe than the worst predictions — but still considerable — and communities along the Eastern Seaboard are still bracing for flooding as rivers continue to rise. Here, a by-the-numbers look at some of the punishment Irene exacted on everything from electrical grids to box-office receipts:

14

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us