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:

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