Flooding poses biggest threat in Irene's wake

KILL DEVIL HILLS, N.C.?? Hurricane Irene was downgraded to a tropical storm as it moved up the coast on Sunday, but stretches of the East Coast that had already been hit were now on alert for major flooding in coming days as rivers swelled from the storm's runoff.

Irene dumped six inches to a foot of rain on many of the coastal states. The storm pummeling the New York City area and New England on Sunday morning, dropping below hurricane strength but still dangerous with 65 mph winds and heavy downpours. In much of the area, the ground was already soggy from an especially rainy August, raising the possibility of flash flooding.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett said: "The rivers may not crest until Tuesday or Wednesday. This isn't just a 24-hour event."

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell had initially warned of a ?catastrophic? storm surge of up to 8 feet, but the state avoided the worst of the surge because of the storm's path.

In a briefing later on Sunday, McDonnell said that the state was watching its rising rivers. Ironically, he said, some of the heaviest rain from Irene fell 50-60 miles inland.

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Eastern North Carolina took hardest hit in that state, where storm surge flooding from high seas cut off roads and stranded people who failed to evacuate, according to the Herald Tribune. At least 200 people were rescued from flooded communities in the Outer Banks, the Raleigh News and Observer reported.

'Not out of the woods'
Federal officials began assessing the damage in areas hit by Irene, but warned that the the tropical storm ? downgraded from a hurricane earlier Sunday ? would continue to cause damage and danger to residents will persist.

Floodwaters were rising across New Jersey, and more than 2,000 National Guardsmen were helping with search and rescue work as officials assessed the damage. The Raritan River, which caused disastrous flooding after it was swelled by rain from Hurricane Floyd 12 years ago, was not expected to crest until Sunday evening.

"We have a ways to go, but I think it is safe to say that the worst of the storm, at least up to and including New York and New Jersey, has passed," Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said.

President Barack Obama and top administration officials, including Vice President Joe Biden, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Napolitano, were briefed Sunday morning in the Situation Room. The White House said Obama asked administration officials to stay in touch with governors and local leadership in areas affected by the storm. Obama planned to meet with his aides for another storm briefing Sunday evening.

Napolitano said the president urged government officials to continue to be aggressive in their efforts to deal with Irene and its aftermath. She said Irene remained large and potentially dangerous.

"Our No. 1 message for individuals and families up and down the Eastern Seaboard this morning is that we're not out of the woods yet," she said.

FEMA administrator Craig Fugate said Sunday that people should not underestimate the danger posed by flooding, weakened trees and downed power even after Irene passes.

More than 4.5 million homes and businesses along the East Coast lost power, and at least 15 deaths were blamed on the storm. But as day broke Sunday, light damage was reported in many places, with little more than downed trees and power lines.

Fugate urged people not to drive around and sightsee after the storm had passed through their areas. His advice: Stay inside, stay off the roads, and let the power crews do their job.
Video: FEMA Director: Stay off the roads (on this page)

"We are starting assessments in North Carolina and we'll be working up the coast as conditions improve and the governors and their teams go out and start looking at the damages," Fugate said.

He declined to estimate the dollar value of damage from Irene but said cash-strapped states that receive a federal disaster declaration will receive U.S. assistance to defray the cost of storm preparations.

With less than $1 billion currently available for federal disaster assistance, FEMA was temporarily suspending payments to states impacted by tornadoes earlier this year in order to pay for damage caused by the hurricane, according to a report Sunday in the Washington Post.

Lingering effects could be devastating
The question still facing the region was whether Irene's effects over the next few days would match the mess left behind by such storms as Floyd and Isabel.

In 1999, Floyd dropped at least 15 inches of rain on eastern North Carolina. The flooding was the most damaging in the state's history, topping $3 billion in North Carolina. Four years later, Isabel brought hurricane conditions to eastern North Carolina and southeast Virginia, causing about $1 billion in damage.

From North Carolina to Pennsylvania, Hurricane Irene appeared to have fallen short of the doomsday predictions, but it could be days before the full extent of the damage is known.

PhotoBlog: Eye of the storm

"I think it's a little strong to say we dodged a bullet. However, it certainly could have turned out worse for the Hampton Roads area" in Virginia, said National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Montefusco.

Story: Irene charges into New England, NYC escapes worst

In Virginia Beach, the city posted on Twitter late Saturday that initial reports were promising, with the resort area suffering minimal damage. And in Ocean City, Md., Mayor Rick Meehan reported: "Scattered power outages. No reports of major damage!"

In Lusby, Md., Constellation Energy Nuclear Group said one of two nuclear reactors at Calvert Cliffs went off-line automatically because of Irene's winds. Constellation said the plant was safe.

Cautiously optimistic
Still, with skies clearing Sunday morning, some of those living on the coast were cautiously optimistic.

After spending the night hunkered down in his Pleasantville, N.J., home overnight without electricity, Harry Webber went outside in a fruitless search for place to buy a cup of coffee.

"I was pleasantly surprised to see that most of my town is still in one piece," he said.

Late last week, Irene was a fearsome Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of around 115 mph as it barreled across open water toward the East Coast. Forecasters predicted it could grow to a scarier Category 4 before blowing ashore.

By Friday, though, the storm began losing steam. It came ashore the next day in North Carolina a mere Category 1 with winds of about 85 mph, and had weakened into a tropical storm by the time its eye hit New York City on Sunday.

North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue said Irene inflicted significant damage along her state's coast, but that the full extent was unclear because some areas were unreachable because of high water or downed power lines.

Video: Social media key to storm communications (on this page)

Perdue planned an aerial tour Sunday of the hardest-hit counties after TV coverage showed downed trees, toppled utility poles and power lines and mangled awnings.

Elsewhere, authorities suggested Irene didn't create the kind of havoc that had been anticipated.

"We were prepared for a lot worse, but we got lucky on this one," said Bruce Shell, New Hanover County, N.C., manager.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44305129/ns/weather/

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