Irene Weakens After Path Through U.S. and Canada
Published: 22-Aug- 2011 | Category:
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As of 5 am EDT on Monday, August 29, Irene was a post-tropical cyclone with its center approximately 100 miles northwest of Houlton, Maine, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC).
As of 5 am EDT, the remnants of Irene were moving into Quebec and Newfoundland, with rainfall gradually ending Monday morning as Irene moved away from the U.S. and Canada. Flood warnings and high wind warnings remain in effect for parts of the northern mid-Atlantic into New England.
Damage and Disruptions
Irene had steadily moved up the coastline after making its first landfall in the United States near Cape Lookout, North Carolina, around 7:30 am EDT on Saturday, August 27. It reached New York City around 9 am EDT on Sunday before moving toward New England later in the day.
Significant rainfall—as high as nearly 16 inches in North Carolina—was reported along the East coast as Irene moved north. Major power outages, flooding, and damaged buildings from rainfall, high wind, storm surges, and other effects of the storm were reported; power outages and flooding were likely to persist in many areas for several days. At least 20 deaths related to Irene had been reported as of Monday morning.
Several mass transit systems, including Amtrak, remained fully or partially suspended in the Northeastern U.S. as of 11 pm EDT due largely to continued power outages and widespread flooding. After thousands of U.S. flight cancellations, some airports began to resume service on Sunday with more service expected to resume on Monday.
Irene caused significant damage in the Bahamas after it became only the third storm since 1866 to cross the entire length of the island chain, bringing hurricane force winds and heavy rainfall. The capital, Nassau, was largely spared, but extensive damage—damaged or destroyed homes and other properties, downed trees, and power outages—has been reported elsewhere, including the islands of Abaco, Acklins, Crooked, and Mayaguana. Business interruption losses may also be significant given the large number of hotels across the Bahamas. Although the full extent of damage has yet to be assessed, there have been no immediate reports of serious injuries of deaths in the area.
Irene’s damaging winds and heavy rain also hit the Turks and Caicos islands, where officials reported widespread damage as the weather ripped roofs off properties, flooded roads, and downed power lines. Similar damage as a result of Irene was reported earlier in the week in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Haiti was mostly spared with some reports of mudslides.
How Marsh Can Help
Marsh’s property risk, business continuity, and crisis management experts are available to assist clients post-event.
Marsh’s local dedicated claims team and client executives can also support clients in their business recovery in the event that they are impacted. The local teams are supported by our regional and international claims teams, including a team of specialists for large or complex claims. To file a claim, contact your client executive or send an email to the appropriate address listed below:
If you have business interests in the affected area, would like assistance with property inspections or a review of your business continuity planning, or have questions regarding your insurance cover, please contact your local Marsh relationship manager or call:
- The Marsh Catastrophe Hotline at +1 866 252 7492; or
- Marsh Risk Consulting’s hotline at +1 212 345 9589 (+1 866 928 7475 within the U.S. and Canada).
Important Links
State / Local Emergency Management Agencies: