Devastation along the East Coast

The Virginian-Pilot, Stephen M. Katz

Hurricane Irene Picks Up Speed As It Re-Emerges Over Atlantic

By MITCH WEISS and SAMANTHA GROSS, Associated Press

MIAMI — Weaker but still menacing, Hurricane Irene knocked out power and piers in North Carolina, clobbered Virginia with wind and churned up the coast Saturday to confront cities more accustomed to snowstorms than tropical storms. New York City emptied its streets and subways and waited with an eerie quiet.

With most of its transportation machinery shut down, the Eastern Seaboard spent the day nervously watching the storm’s march across a swath of the nation inhabited by 65 million people. The hurricane had an enormous wingspan – 500 miles, its outer reaches stretching from the Carolinas to Cape Cod – and packed wind gusts of 115 mph.

Almost a million homes and businesses were without power. While it was too early to assess the full threat, Irene was blamed for five deaths.

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Hurricane Irene could bring historic storm surges

The Virginian-Pilot

Gov. Bob McDonnell reported tonight that he expects storm surges in Hampton Roads to exceed expectations and likely be worse than any previous storm.

“Hurricane Irene continues to be a very dangerous, and catastrophic in some areas, storm,” he said.

The governor said 80 mph sustained winds coming at the same time as high tide will produce record storm surges of up to 8 feet. Norfolk already is experiencing an 8-foot storm surge downtown.

Massive flooding will follow in the coming days.

More here.