Irene, downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm, has made its way through New York and is sputtering through New England on its way to Canada. The Epoch Times has the storm covered right from our New York headquarters.
Highlights:
– Vermont After Hurricane Irene * As Irene Weakens, Jose Forms * 19 Reported Dead Due to Irene * Obama Calls Americans ‘Resilient’
– MTA Subways to Start Running by Monday Morning | JFK, LGA, EWR to Reopen Monday Morning * MTA Resumes Limited Bus Service * PATH Service Starts Up Again * NY State Thruway Suffers Major Blockage
– Hundreds of Thousands Without Power * Hundreds of Trees Downed * No Reported Injuries or Deaths in New York City From Irene
– US Open to Resume Monday * Many Manhattan Stores Still Closed; Few Open * Broadway to Reopen Monday
Last Updated at 10:00 p.m. EDT Sunday. Refresh Page
10:00 p.m. Sunday | This Live Blog Has Ended
Thus concludes The Epoch Times’ live blog of Hurricane Irene. Thanks for following us, and for the latest updates, stay tuned to our front page. Feel free to browse our entries and collection of photographs from the storm. We hope that you have enjoyed this Epoch Times feature. To give feedback, please e-mail feedback@epochtimes.com
—Mimi Li, Helena Zhu, and Staff
9:09 p.m. | MTA Update: Trains to Start Running Tomorrow Morning, With Exceptions
The MTA will begin restoring the subway system by 6 a.m. Monday, Governor Cuomo announced in a press release.
Service will be restored at 6 a.m. but it will be less frequent and there will be longer waits and crowded trains. Frequency will improve as the day goes by.
There are a few exceptions to restoration. 3 trains will only work between 137th Street/City College and New Lots Avenue. C trains are suspended. There will be no service in the Rockaways. 6 trains run local in the Bronx and 7 trains run local. S Franklin Avenue Shuttle is suspended, while N trains stop at Kings Highway. (See a complete list of exceptions below.)
The Staten Island Railway will be restored by midnight on Monday. Bus service will continue to improve tomorrow but may not be back to normal yet.
MTA bridges and tunnels opened at 7 p.m. today. Access-a-Ride and Able Ride will work tomorrow and will help return those who evacuated to get back to their homes.
Prior to restoration, the subway tracks, signals, and equipment were undergoing extensive assessment. Water on tracks had to be dealt with, repairs had to be made, equipment fixed, and test trains ran.
Tropical Storm Irene, then called Hurricane Irene, flooded subways, caused trees to fall, and power to go out.
There will be no extensions on unlimited Metrocards, although buses currently run free until tomorrow morning at 5 a.m.
**Exceptions to Restoration:
– 3 trains work between 137th Street/City College and New Lots Avenue
– C trains are suspended
– No service in the Rockaways
– 6 trains run local in the Bronx
– 7 trains run local
– S Franklin Avenue Shuttle is suspended
– N trains stop at Kings Highway.
—Shannon Liao
8:59 p.m. | State Buildings in Good Condition, to Open Tomorrow
Gov. Andrew Cuomo tweeted that all state buildings are in good condition and will be open tomorrow.
—Helena Zhu
8:52 p.m. | Irene Wipes Out a Town
Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene has wiped out downtown Windham in upstate New York with more than ten inches of heavy rain flooding the town’s Main Street, according to reports from ABC News and Mid-Hudson News.
Forced evacuations were ordered on Saturday night and firefighters spent Sunday saving people from flooded houses.
The creek, whose velocity quickened due to the weather, grew powerful enough to rip a house off its hinges and swallowed it. The house later slammed into a bridge.
School buses and garages have been submerged by the intense floods.
For photos of Irene’s impact on Windham, visit Watershed Post.
—Shannon Liao
8:41 p.m. | Cuomo: More Aid for New York Counties
Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that another five counties will receive federal assistance due to Hurricane Irene damage. Originally, all five NYC boroughs were approved by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), but now the list includes Columbia, Delaware, Greene, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Sullivan, Ulster, Schoharie, and Westchester counties.
The governor has also directed members of the State Police and Department of Environmental Convervation to Greene County and Schohair County on Sunday to rescue stranded residents caught in the severely flooded areas.
Cuomo advises that residents "continue to exercise extreme caution in the days ahead."
—Julie Valdrez
8:31 p.m. | Tropical Storm Irene Loses Steam
Tropical Storm Irene has received another downgrade—this time not in name but in speed.
While twelve hours ago, Tropical Storm Irene ran at 65 miles per hour, it’s now slowed down to a 50 miles per hour.
The National Weather Service predicts the storm will further weaken and degenerate into a post-tropical cyclone by tonight.
Twelve hours ago, Irene was producing five to ten inches of rain, and now Irene will be producing four to six inches of rainfall. The isolated maximum amount of rainfall is eight inches of rain, which could hit Northeastern New York State through to New England.
These rains, in combination with past rains, could cause widespread flooding and life-threatening flash floods, according to the report.
Winds will be higher over areas of elevated terrain, such as Northern New England and Eastern Canada.
At 9 a.m. today, the hurricane weakened into a tropical storm.
Around lower Manhattan, the winds were enough to batter street signs. The sound of wind pattering the signs created significant noise that alarmed people passing by.
—Shannon Liao
8:10 p.m. | Three Warships to Assist in Irene Aftermath: Report
Three amphibious warships will be on call off the coast of New England and New York to provide assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, CNN has reported. Sent by the U.S. Navy, the USS Wasp, USS Oak Hill, and the USS New York are prepared to support search-and-rescue aid, emergency medical support, debris cleaning, and helicopter landing if needed.
Although no official orders have been given, the naval ships will be prepared to join in any relief effort by Monday, according to Lt. Cmdr. Jim Krohne of the USS Wasp, as reported by CNN.
—Vicky Jiang
7:35 p.m. | NYC Airports Reopening Times
JFK and Newark airports will open at 6 a.m. tomorrow for arrivals, and noon for departing flights. LaGuardia airport will open at 7 a.m. Monday for both arrivals and departures.
JFK’s AirTrain will return to service at 4 a.m. Monday. Newark AirTrain to resume service at 6 a.m.
—Mimi Li and Helena Zhu
6:59 p.m. | Irene’s Cost in the Billions: Report
Damage caused by Irene could reach $7 billion, according to New York Times report, making it one of America’s costliest disasters, natural or manmade.
From the piece:
Most of the loss will very likely come from property in New York and New Jersey, according to industry experts. Although Irene had diminished to a tropical storm by the time it reached New York early on Sunday, those two states have the most valuable coastal property on the Atlantic Coast.
At $7 billion in possible losses, Irene would be among the 10 costliest catastrophes in American history, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
—Mimi Li
6:37 p.m. | 19 Casualties From Irene So Far
According to The Associated Press, at least 19 people have been killed by Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene, with the youngest being an 11-year-old boy who died after a tree struck his apartment building in Newport News, Virginia.
The boy was later identified by police as Zahir Robinson, who had been pinned under the tree for almost two and a half hours. His mother and baby sibling were unharmed.
Many of the deaths can be attributed to trees striking people dead.
Other casualties include a 15-year-girl who died in Goldsboro, New York City when her father’s SUV collided with another SUV in an intersection where traffic lights weren’t working due to a power outage.
A man was killed by a falling branch in Nashville, North Carolina.
Twenty-year-old Celena Sylvestri of Quinton, New Jersey died while trapped in her car that was floating 150 feet away from the road.
A motorist in Pennsylvania died when his motorcycle skidded over an embankment and hit a tree.
The total death toll is one in Connecticut, two in Florida, one in Maryland, one in New Jersey, two in New York, five in North Carolina, three in Pennsylvania, and four in Virginia.
—Shannon Liao
6:31 p.m. | Report: JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark Airports to Reopen Monday Morning
JFK, Newark, and LaGuardia airports will open Monday a.m., NY officials told the New York Times’ Thomas Kaplan. No other details have been released. Stay tuned for further updates.
—Helena Zhu
6:27 p.m. | New York City Weather Update
Tonight will be windy with a few showers early then clear overnight. Low 59F. W winds at 20 to 30 mph. Tomorrow will be mainly sunny. High 79F.
—Helena Zhu
6:20 p.m. | Broadway to End Shutdown on Monday
Theatre-goers won’t have to wait long to be entertained again: Broadway plans on restarting Monday.
The Associated Press quoted a representative of the Broadway League as saying that Broadway performances on Monday will go ahead unless the government says otherwise.
It’s the first time Broadway has been shut down since the 2003 New York blackout.
Saturday and Sunday matinee and evening shows were canceled, costing theatres revenue from as many as four performances.
—Mimi Li
6:15 p.m. | Evacuation Order for Zone A and Rockaway Peninsula Lifted
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg updated on Twitter that the evacuation order for Zone A and the Rockaway peninsula is lifted.
A map of the evacuation zones is here.
—Helena Zhu
5:54 p.m. | Photos: Flooding in Manhattan
—Amal Chen
5:47 p.m. | Flash Floods in Vermont
Parts of Vermont are experiencing flash flooding, with streets submerged under three feet of water. Catch some footage here, with a commentator saying, “Unbelievable” continuously: http://www.weather.com/weather/hurricanecentral/article/raging-waters-in-vermont-hurricane-irene_2011-08-28
—Shannon Liao
5:38 p.m. | US Open Tennis Tournament to Resume Monday
The USTA has announced that the US Open will begin on Monday as scheduled at the Billy Jean King Center in Flushing, N.Y. The association said it reported minimal damage and will be diligently preparing the venue throughout the day. Gates will open at 10 a.m., with matches set to begin at 11. The first match at Arthur Ashe Stadium will be at 1 p.m. Check back to The Epoch Times website for full US Open coverage starting on Monday.
—Kristen Meriwhether
5:34 p.m. | Some New York Buses Are Running
Since 4:30 p.m., BX1 to BX55, M1 to M116, and Q1 to Q113 have been running with delays. Others are still suspended, but the working buses are free of charge.
—Helena Zhu
5:30 p.m. | Obama Calls Americans ‘Resilient,’ Recovery Efforts Continue
President Obama, during a 5 p.m. press conference today, encouraged Americans for having done very well surviving Irene so far, calling them a “strong and resilient people.”
He said that the government was monitoring the storm and watching out for flooding.
There are search and rescue teams operating in flooded areas.
U.S. Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Napolitano spoke of a three-phased approach to dealing with the storm: preparation, response, and recovery. She thanked those who followed evacuation orders, saying that it freed up the rescue teams to help others.
She said FEMA was coordinating with local authorities to respond to the storm.
Director of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Craig Fugate said that the agency would continue working, even though Irene has been downgraded from a Category 1 Hurricane to a tropical storm. “We’re not going home just because it won’t be on the news.”
Obama ended by saying that Napolitano and Fugate will keep everyone updated through the week.
—Shannon Liao
5:14 p.m. | As Irene Weakens, Jose Forms
Tropical Storm Irene, with maximum sustained winds at 50 mph, is now nearing northern New England, the National Hurricane Center said. Irene, which is forecast to weaken and become a post-tropical cyclone by tonight, is projected to move over eastern Canada tonight and early Monday.
Concurrently, Tropical Storm Jose is passing just west of Bermuda. It is not projected to move toward North America.
—Helena Zhu
4:48 p.m. | NY State Thruway Closures
Irene’s wrath is causing headaches for drivers between Hudson Valley and Albany, N.Y.
As of Sunday afternoon, a large stretch of the New York State Thruway (Interstate 87) has sustained a mudslide, fallen tree branches, and flooding, causing 90 miles of northbound lanes and 137 miles of southbound lanes to be closed indefinitely.
Thruway spokesperson Michael Sullivan told The Associated Press that some sections of the highway are underneath four feet of water. The Tappan Zee Bridge is also closed.
For the latest updates, visit the NYS Thruway Authority at http://www.thruway.ny.gov/index.shtml
—Mimi Li
4:37 p.m. | PATH Rail Service to Resume at 4 a.m. Monday
Port Authority announced that full PATH rail service in New Jersey and New York City will resume at 4 a.m. on Monday. The Port Authority’s Hudson River crossings and Staten Island bridges already are in full operation, with E-ZPass and cash tolls being accepted.
The bi-state agency continues to work with the FAA and its airline partners on restoring flight service at the region’s airports.
—Helena Zhu
4:22 p.m. | All Bridges to New York’s Rockaways Reopen: Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges, Cross Bay Veterans Memorial, Broad Channel
—Helena Zhu
4:20 p.m. | MTA to Restore Limited Bus Serice at 4:30 p.m.
The MTA announced that it will restore limited bus service starting at 4:30 p.m. today.
—Helena Zhu
4:06 p.m. | Irene Aftermath: Midtown’s Tourists, Stores, Parks
Along the streets of Midtown Manhattan are stores closed off with duct tape, short letters, and heavy metal bars.
While some stores leave their lights on so passerby tourists can look at the merchandise with wistful, yearning glances, others turn everything off to save electricity.
But even the tourists, which normally swarm the city, are few and scarce. Groups of them wear bright blue raincoats, while exchanging quick conversations in foreign tongues.
Parks are closed, such as Bryant Park, the one next to the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, New York’s main branch library, even though it is normally filled with people reading newspapers, feeding pigeons, or stopping by to have a coffee.
Subways are still down, leaving people to travel by foot or car.
For the few stores that are still open, they have braved the storm.
—Shannon Liao
3:40 p.m. | Small Businesses Open Despite Irene
"We had some customers, but not many," said Abdul of Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco on West 37th Street and Sixth Avenue. His store remained open throughout the storm. A block away, Yunes Deli only closed for one hour, according to its cashier. Customers said they were impressed.
—Christine Lin
3:28 p.m. | 936,101 Customers Without Power in New York State, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.
Cuomo said he will tour storm damage in Long Beach at 4:30 p.m.
—Helena Zhu
3:21 p.m. | Bryant Park Closed
—Tianna Ren
2:57 p.m. | Hazardous Wind Gusts Possible
Tropical Storm Warning for NYC: As Hurricane Irene departs, hazardous wind gusts up to 55 mph still possible, according to the National Weather Service.
—Kristen Meriwhether
2:50 p.m. | Irene Passes, Trees Go Down
—Zack Stieber
2:38 p.m. | No Subway Service Yet
—Vicky Jiang
2:28 p.m. | Irene Aftermath for New York Pets
Even in times of emergency, New York pets aren’t left behind. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said city taxis and emergency evacuation centers were required to take clients and their pets.
And here they are: They’ve survived Irene!
—Dai Bing, Tara MacIsaac, and Vicky Jiang
2:10 p.m. | Irene Weakens, Passes New England
The National Hurricane Center said that the tropical storm is moving over New England. Irene is now 15 miles south of Pittsfield, Mass. Irene is forecast to become a post-tropical cyclone by tonight.
—Helena Zhu
2:03 p.m. | Staten Island Ferry to Reopen
The Staten Island Ferry, which has been closed since 8 p.m. Saturday night due to Hurricane Irene, will reopen out of St. George at 3 p.m. on Sunday, according to New York City Mayors Office.
—Kristen Meriwether
1:53 p.m. | ‘James’ Takes in the Aftermath of Irene
—Christian Watjen
1:40 p.m. | MTA Chairman: Bus Service to Restore First
While exact time cannot be given, Jay Walder, chairman and CEO of the MTA, said bus service will resume first among all the transportation services.
According to preliminary assessments, Metro-North Railroad has suffered the worst damage with flooding and erosion of tracks, while the underriver subway tunnels in the East River thankfully was not flooded, even though they were expected to.
"It’s going to be tough," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said. "Jay doesn’t know yet. The important thing is he has kept the equipment safe."
"We will just have to wait and see," he said.
—Tara MacIsaac
1:30 p.m. | Mayor Bloomberg: Not Safe to Go Home Yet
In his first press conference for Sunday, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said all cranes at the World Trade Center have been taken down. Despite the arrival of Tropical Storm Irene and the temporary pause in work, the site’s 9/11 memorial will still open on time on Sept. 11.
Earlier this morning, Bloomberg visited FDR shelter in Brooklyn as he drove along the coastal areas. "The clients that they servce could not have been more appreciative," Bloomberg said.
"The Good news is the worst is over," Bloomberg said. "There is no confirmation of deaths or injuries from the storm."
Bloomberg said "safety is the first priority," even though he knows that evacuated residents are "very anxious" to get back home.
"We were unwilling to risk the life of a single New Yorker," Bloomberg said of the evacuation of 370,000 New Yorkers from low-lying areas.
He said he hopes New Yorkers will learn lots about the storm so we will know better what to do in the future.
"Nobody likes to shut down the economy of the city, nobody wants to inconvenience people."
He said Staten Island and Far Rockaways beaches had erosion. Ocean Beach in Bronx is underwater, while Bronx River has serious floods. Across the five boroughs, 62,000 houses are without power and 650 trees have been uprooted.
"I’ve always been fascinated with how we get the numbers," Bloomberg said.
Bloomberg gave a "big thanks" to the taxi drivers for helping transport people when the subway system is down. He also noted that overnight crime has been below normal for the city when it’s going through hard times. The city only had 45 arrests last night when the average number for an August Saturday night is 345.
Although without mass transit, New Yorkers still have the option to visit the parks today. Just be careful under the trees, said Bloomberg.
—Tara MacIsaac
1:20 p.m. | Con Edison Vans Ready for Emergency at Union Square
About 100 Con Edison vans have gathered at Union Square. A worker said they are stationed there "in case of an emergency." If the power goes out, "we will get busy," he said.
—Zack Stieber
With Mayor Michael Bloomberg urging New Yorkers to stay indoors on Sunday morning, New York’s usually populated midtown is—for the first time in a while—empty.
—Chris Kitze
12:59 p.m. | Mayor Bloomberg Urges New Yorkers to Report Fallen Trees
On his Twitter page, Mayor Michael Bloomberg urged New Yorkers to report all fallen trees and branches to 311.
—Helena Zhu
12:47 p.m. | The Night of Hurricane: A Photo Review
Although the city was shut down last night, emergency crew and reporters were still out and about in Lower Manhattan.
—Amal Chen
12:17 p.m. | Mayor Bloomberg to Give Updates
Mayor Michael Bloomberg is scheduled to give an update on Irene and New York City. Epoch Times reporter Tara MacIsaac will keep you updated.
—Helena Zhu
11:52 a.m. | Waters Flood NJ Hotel Parking Lot
—Jason Loftus via Charlotte Cuthbertson
11:40 a.m. | Tropical Storm Irene Now in Connecticut
Tropical Storm Irene, with maximum sustained winds at 60 mph, is now just 10 miles west of Danbury in Connecticut, the National Hurricane Center said in its latest advisory. The center of Irene is expected to move over northern New England later today and over eastern Canada tonight. It is forecast to weaken and become a post-tropical cyclone by tonight.
—Helena Zhu
11:30 a.m. | FDR Drive Fully Closed
The city announced that the FDR Drive is fully closed, with the exception of East Houston Street to East 34th Street.
—Helena Zhu
11:25 a.m. | Port Authority Reopns North Tube of Holland Tunnel
The Port Authority has reopened the Holland Tunnel’s North Tube, which handles vehicles traveling from New York to New Jersey. The tube was closed earlier this morning due to flooding.
—Charlotte Cuthbertson
11:24 a.m. | NYSE Weathers the Storm, Opens Monday
New York Stock Exchange has weathered the storm—no damage or flooding. The stock exchange will be back in business on Monday.
—Kristen Meriwhether
11:15 a.m. | Soho Flooding ‘Happens a couple of times a year’: Resident
Despite the attention given to the flooding in Soho, a resident living at Grand Street and Broadway in Manhattan’s Soho said that flooding at the intersection happens a couple times a year—whenever it rains hard.
—Zack Stieber, Vicky Jiang, and Yi Yang
11:05 a.m. | Man Kayaks in Soho Flood Waters
—Zack Stieber
10:59 a.m. | Workers Let Out Subway Steam
—Zack Stieber
10:48 a.m. | Subway Restoration of Service a ‘Lengthy Process’: MTA
In its latest alert, the MTA said the storm surge and heavy rains may cause additional widespread flooding, mudslide, washouts, fallen trees, and downed power lines that would damage the MTA’s signals, tracks, stations, under-river tunnels, and other infrastructure. Restoration of service is expected to be a "lengthy process."
—Helena Zhu
10:25 a.m. | Water Knee-Deep in Soho
Grand Street and West Broadway in Manhattan’s Soho has flooding up to the knees on Sunday morning. All basements are flooded.
—Kristen Meriwhether
10:12 a.m. | Water Level Safe at Hudson River
Although windy and rainy, the water level at Hudson River remains safe early Sunday morning.
—Kristen Meriwhether
9:56 a.m. | MTA Workers Head Uptown to Fight Subway Flooding
After taking care of subway flooding in downtown Manhattan, some MTA workers are driving uptown to make sure the system’s barricades can withstand the flooding to minimize damage.
—Yi Yang
9:52 a.m. | Irene Starts to Leave New York City
The National Hurricane Center reported that Hurricane Irene made landfall at Coney Island around 9 a.m. Its maximum sustained winds have dropped to 65mph, making it a tropical storm instead of a hurricane. The storm is now starting to leave.
—Helena Zhu
9:40 a.m. | 9/11 Memorial Safe
9/11 Memorial at WTC has weathered the hurricane. "No severe flooding and none of the memorial trees were lost," 9/11 Memorial updated on its Twitter page.
9:35 a.m. | Bridges Are Opening Up
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on his Twitter page the opening of five bridges: Bear Mountain Bridge with sustained winds at 14 mph, Newburgh-Beacon Bridge with sustained winds at 11 mph, Mid-Hudson Bridge with sustained winds at 18 mph, Kinston-Rhinecliff Bridge with sustained winds at 20 mph, and Rip Van Winkle Bridge with sustained winds at 29 mph. Marine Parkway Bridge and Cross Bay Bridge are still suspended. Bridges close when the sustained winds reach 60 mph.
—Helena Zhu
9:26 a.m. | Power Outages Sweep Across New York State
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on his Twitter page that approximately 370,000 people are without power across the state right now, with 204,030 LIPA customers affected, 70,611 Con Edison customers and 42,311 NYSEG customers. Geographically, 24,877 are without power in Queens, 16,688 in Staten Island, 16,688 in Westchester, 16,124 in Bronx, and 6,668 in Brooklyn.
—Helena Zhu
8:30 a.m. | Irene coming into New York still as Category 1 Hurricane
Irene is sporting 75 mph sustained winds, with its center nearing New York City, the NOAA reports. Torrential rains continue. I really wouldn’t want to be outside right now … strongly suggest you follow NYC Severe Weather‘s advice and stay indoors! The storm is now less than 40 miles south of New York City.
—Jan Jekielek
1:55 a.m. | It’s really starting to blow!
Experienced around Union Square, the wind is really starting to blow, and the rain is getting borderline torrential. A big change from an hour-and-a-half ago.
—Jan Jekielek
12:18 a.m. | Meteorologist Anthony Farrell Eyes Irene
Anthony Farrell, a meteorologist for Global Toronto in Canada, said it does look like Long Island is going to be seeing the direct effect of the eye, possibly even into parts of Manhattan.
Read more here.
—Charlotte Cuthbertson
View next page for Saturday’s updates.
