Effects of Hurricane Irene in New York

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Hurricane Irene
Satellite image of Tropical Storm Irene near New York City
Tropical storm
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds65 mph (100 km/h)
Overall effects
Fatalities10
Damage$296 million (2011 USD)
Areas affectedNew York
[1]
Part of the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season

The Effects of Hurricane Irene in New York were the worst from a hurricane since

Hurricane Irene formed from a tropical wave on August 21, 2011 in the tropical Atlantic Ocean. It moved west-northwestward, and within an environment of light wind shear and warm waters. Shortly before becoming a hurricane, Irene struck Puerto Rico as a tropical storm. Thereafter, it steadily strengthened to reach peak winds of 120 mph (190 km/h) on August 24. Irene then gradually weakened and made landfall on the Outer Banks of North Carolina with winds of 85 mph (137 km/h) on August 27. It slowly weakened over land and re-emerged into the Atlantic on the following day. Later on August 28, Irene was downgraded to a tropical storm and made two additional landfalls, one in New Jersey and another in New York. The storm quickly began to lose tropical characteristics and became extratropical in Vermont
.

Preparations

Department of Homeland Security to coordinate disaster relief efforts.[8]

Beginning at 0900 UTC on August 26, a hurricane watch was issued from

Sandy Hook in New Jersey to the mouth of the Merrimack River in Massachusetts; this encompassed Long Island and the southeastern coast of the state. Later that day at 2100 UTC, a previously issued hurricane warning was modified to include the coast from the Little River Inlet in South Carolina to Sagamore Beach in Massachusetts. Shortly after moving inland over New York, the hurricane warning was downgraded to a tropical storm warning at 1500 UTC on August 28. Early on the following day, all watches and warnings were discontinued.[9]

The

Irene 15". Since they had to walk, drive or take taxicabs to go long distances due to the transit shutdown, city life took on a more relaxed character. "There was a community feeling", said one. "People were just stopping and talking on the sidewalk."[15]

Impact

Flooding overwhelmed a number of local

Westchester County to Albany.[17]

New York City

Time lapsed video of flood waters on Staten Island (7:07–8:52 EST)

Upon making landfall on

Battery Park. Winds were lighter than the intensity of the storm in New York City. However, two locations in the city reported tropical storm force winds. A sustained wind speed of 45 and 50 mph (72 and 80 km/h) was reported at John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport, respectively. On Manhattan, sustained winds were significantly less, reaching 32 mph (51 km/h) at Central Park. Rainfall in the area was moderate, with John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Central Park reporting 5.02 inches (128 mm), 5.37 inches (136 mm), and 6.87 inches (174 mm), respectively.[9] Floods from Irene contributed to August 2011 being the wettest month ever in New York City.[18]

In

Meatpacking District along the Hudson River in Manhattan. At 9:15, the northern tube of the Holland Tunnel closed, but was soon re-opened.[19] As of 9:20, the flooding was at about a foot deep.[where?] The water came within a foot of flooding the subway system and road tunnels.[20] The police reported 30 arrests during the storm, some in domestic violence cases resulting from couples forced to remain inside.[21] By 10:45, almost all of FDR Drive was closed.[22]

One man drowned at a marina in

City Island in the Bronx, New York City while checking on his boat during the storm,[23][24] while just north of New York City, one person was killed when an inflatable boat capsized on the Croton River.[23] Two baseball games between the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves were postponed due to the effects of the storm.[25]

Long Island

Extensive

power lines.[26] Rising frustration among residents over the slow pace of power restoration led Cuomo to call on the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) to replace system operator National Grid, whose contract is up for renewal.[27] Orient Beach State Park was closed for 3 days due to storm damage.[28]

Another fatality occurred on the south shore of

Bellport Bay.[23]


Albany County

In Albany County, numerous trees and power lines were reported down due to strong winds. This resulted in numerous power outages and road closures. There was also extensive flooding along the Normanskill Creek that resulted in significant property damage to homes located near the creek.[29]

Orange County

Damaged roads in New Windsor
A road with a huge gap in front of the camera. Pieces of marked pavement are visible in the hole; its bottom cannot be seen from this angle. The box girder guardrails continue across it on either side. Beyond it is a concrete barrier
Forge Hill Road
A section of road with part of it missing, showing a cross-section of pavement and the top of some steep bluffs. Two white houses are in the background, one very near the bluff edge
Butternut Drive
Both roads are adjacent to Moodna Creek, which was flooded.

The Ramapo's flooding was believed by residents of an area of

Edward Harriman, Arden's founder, had collapsed during the storm, sending an alleged 100 million gallons (380,000 m3) into the river. Some residents reported an 8-foot (2.4 m) wall of water coming down the river; those with property along the river say it had never gotten that high in other storms. The dam had last been inspected in 1986 and found to be "low-hazard", meaning its failure would not severely impact any structures or roads in the area. Local officials were incredulous, noting the dam's proximity to the New York State Thruway, which had to be closed through there for two days as a result.[30]

In

mold growth.[32] A day after it was reopened, rainfall from Tropical Storm Lee flooded it again, and it was closed indefinitely.[33] County Executive Edward A. Diana pressed legislators to reach a decision soon on whether to repair the building or replace it, a topic long under consideration in county government.[34] In the interim, the county's courts scrambled for space. The county's 170-year-old original courthouse, which had not been used for that purpose in 40 years, temporarily hosted civil cases.[35]

Elsewhere in the county, parts the village of Washingtonville were under 8 feet (2.4 m) of water during the storm due to the flash flood of Moodna Creek. Some homes near the creek had to be condemned.[36] Three weeks later, Moffat Library was closed down for repairs and cleaning from the 6 feet (1.8 m) of water in its basement.[37] It would not reopen until late 2017.[38]

In Harriman State Park, the beach at Lake Sebago was washed away completely, and had to be closed for the upcoming holiday weekend. Seven Lakes Drive has been closed through the park due to extensive damage.[39]

Orange County's

Cornell Cooperative Extension estimates that half of the county's 3,400 acres (1,400 ha) of cultivated land was damaged, along with $1.5 million in farm infrastructure such as field roads washed away, soil covered in silt
and land eroded.

Ulster County

A deep ravine between two broken ends of road in a wooded area. A branch blocks the roadway further from the camera
Gorge created by washout on road to Frost Valley in the Catskills

In Ulster County, crop losses were estimated at $5 million. One farmer in Kerhonkson found his fields under 12 feet (3.7 m) of water from Rondout Creek, enough for him to use personal watercraft on the resulting lake well into September.[40]

Residents of the area around

flood plain should be rebuilt as they have been in the past, at least not without improving building codes.[44]

Catskill Mountains

Large tree trunks and branches lying across a dirt path in the middle of a forest
Blowdown on Catskills hiking trail after Irene

Disastrous flash floods occurred in the northwestern Catskill Mountains, particularly in the town of Margaretville.[45] An elderly woman drowned in creek flooding at Fleischmanns, also in the Catskills.[23] Record flooding along the Schoharie Creek, destroyed the Old Blenheim Bridge, a 156-year-old covered bridge that had been designated a National Historic Landmark.[46]

In

town supervisor.[48]

Some other protected areas experienced considerable damage. Along the Shawangunk Ridge, an area popular with rock climbers as well as hikers, two popular recreational areas, the privately owned Mohonk Preserve and the public Minnewaska State Park Preserve, closed some trails and parking lots and allowed only foot use of those that remained open. The annual Survival of the Shawangunks triathlon route had to be shortened by 7 miles (11 km).

Adirondack Mountains

Washout on Rte. 73, 29 August 2011

Irene also did significant damage in the

Marcy Dam Pond was partially drained.[51] On September 8, DEC reopened some trails and trailheads in the High Peaks and Giant areas, warning hikers that there was still major damage in some areas. The same day, it closed all trails on property it managed in the Catskill Park in Greene and Ulster counties.[52]

Aftermath

Government response

The MTA initially replaced the trains with bus service to the

Port Jervis to New Jersey so additional trains could be offered in the interim.[53] Later, they announced bus service would be extended to all stations on the line. When it was clear the line between Port Jervis and Harriman had not been damaged as badly as the Ramapo Valley portion between the latter station and Suffern, officials also raised the possibility of restoring train service along that portion. They stressed that Federal Railroad Administration regulations required that all stock would have to be taken to New Jersey and inspected before that could happen.[54] Workers on the line were reassigned to New Jersey in the interim.[55] On September 16 Metro-North announced it would restore service between Port Jervis and Harriman, so passengers could take the bus to Ramsey Route 17 from there.[56] Service was restored on the entire line on November 28, 2011, using one track.[57]

Rep. Nan Hayworth, whose district includes much of the county, caused controversy when she reportedly said that federal funds for relief would have to be made up for by budget cuts elsewhere.[58] On a visit to Tuxedo, she claimed she had been misquoted by a local newspaper.[59]

Non-Government response

In mid-September, farmers reported a smaller-than-average harvest of pumpkins in the northeastern United States.

Cornell Cooperative Extension estimates that half of the county's 3,400 acres (1,400 ha) of cultivated land was damaged, along with $1.5 million in farm infrastructure such as field roads washed away, soil covered in silt and land eroded. In Ulster County, crop losses were estimated at $5 million. One farmer in Kerhonkson found his fields under 12 feet (3.7 m) of water from Rondout Creek, enough for him to use personal watercraft on the resulting lake well into September.[40]

Farmers were worried that reports of the damage and crop loss would deter tourists from

narrow gauge tracks washed into the Esopus, planned to offer shorter rides at a reduced price during leaf peeping season, its busiest time of year.[63]

Flood victims and officials in Tuxedo blamed the Thruway Authority for filling a drainage ditch nearby in order to construct an earthen berm as a

Annie Rabbitt and state senator David Carlucci have jointly asked the authority to remove the berm; the agency says it is considering its options.[30]

Elsewhere

Two sets of railroad tracks twisted and tilted, with some woody debris on and around them
Damage to the Port Jervis Line

Water rose over portions of the

Suffern indefinitely; the line was later found to have more than a half-mile (1 km) of washouts.[65]

A sinkhole that began forming in Monticello, the seat of Sullivan County, during Irene did not become evident until three weeks later, following further flooding. Village officials called to a small hole in the parking lot of a funeral home downtown found over the course of the following week that the underlying collapse extended to several other nearby properties and two streets. They attributed it to a burst drainage pipe and estimated it could cost $1 million to repair.[66]

In

electrocution from downed wires. A woman drowned in a flooded creek while evacuating her home in New Scotland, just southwest of the capital Albany.[23]

See also

References

  1. ^ Storm Events Database, NOAA
  2. The Huffington Post
    . Retrieved 2011-08-25.
  3. ^ Hartnell, Neil (2011-08-25). "Irene pounds Bahamas, North Carolina on hurricane watch". Orlando Sentinel. Reuters. Retrieved 2011-08-25.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ James Barron, "New York City Shuts Down Amid Flooding Fears" (August 27, 2011), The New York Times.
  5. ^ a b "Live blog: Irene's winds 'extremely dangerous' at 105 mph". CNN. 2011-08-26. Retrieved 2011-08-25.
  6. ^ "New York City Hurricane Evacuation Zones" (PDF). NYC.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-09-12. Retrieved 2011-08-26.
  7. ^ Goldman, Henry (2011-08-25). "Irene May Require NYC Evacuations". Bloomberg.com. Bloomberg. Retrieved 2011-08-25.
  8. ^ "Obama: Emergency for NY as Irene approaches". The Wall Street Journal. Associated Press. 2011-08-26. Retrieved 2011-08-27.
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  13. ^ Jones, Kenneth (2011-08-26). "UPDATED: Hurricane Irene Prompts Cancellation of All Broadway Shows Aug. 27–28; Off-Broadway Also Impacted". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2012-09-13. Retrieved 2011-08-26.
  14. ^ Rossingh, Danielle (2011-08-26). "National Tennis Center to Close on Eve of U.S. Open; Kids' Day Canceled". Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved 2011-08-27.
  15. ^ Rosenbloom, Stephanie (September 2, 2011). "New York Was Calm as Irene Stormed Through". The New York Times. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
  16. ^ Bosch, Adam (2011-09-08). "Sewage plants no match for Irene, authorities say". Times-Herald Record. Retrieved 2011-09-14.
  17. ^ Sections of New York Thruway closed by flooding, Syracuse.com, August 29, 2011
  18. ^ "August 2011 National Climate Report". NOAA. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  19. ^ "Port Authority Reopens North Tube of the Holland Tunnel". Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (Press release). August 28, 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-10-02.
  20. ^ NAVARRO, MIREYA (10 September 2012). "New York Is Lagging as Seas and Risks Rise, Critics Warn". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 November 2012. Irene .. one foot short of paralyzing transportation
  21. ^ Wilson, Michael (2011-09-02). "A Time of Drenching Rain, Gusting Wind and Peculiar Crimes". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-09-14.
  22. ^ Due to flooding, the FDR Drive is fully closed, with the exception of E Houston St to E 34 St, MN. Consider alternate routes., NYCEM, Twitter, August 28, 2011
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  25. ^ Mets postpone two games, ESPN, August 26, 2011
  26. ^ Jonathan Allen – "Long Island residents frustrated by power outages" – Reuters – August 29, 2011 – Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  27. ^ Baker, Al (2011-09-03). "Amid Mud and Floods, Push to Restore Power". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-09-14.
  28. ^ Orient Beach State Park Reopens, Patch.com, September 1, 2011
  29. ^ Hinson, Stuart (2011). "Event Record Details: Tropical Storm". National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2012-02-20.[permanent dead link]
  30. ^
    Times-Herald Record
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  31. ^ Sullivan, John (2011-09-08). "Raw sewage worried rescuers in Goshen". Times=Herald Record. Retrieved 2011-09-14.
  32. ^ McKenna, Chris (2011-09-08). "Government Center mold troublesome, Phillips says". Times-Herald Record. Retrieved 2011-09-14.
  33. ^ McKenna, Chris (2011-09-09). "Orange County Government Center closed indefinitely". Times-Herald Record. Retrieved 2011-09-14.
  34. ^ "Diana pushes legislators to OK new building". Times-Herald Record. September 16, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  35. ^ Yakin, Heather (September 20, 2011). "Orange County judges play musical chairs". Times-Herald Record. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
  36. ^ Sullivan, John (2011-09-02). "Hundreds in Washingtonville displaced by Irene". Times-Herald Record. Retrieved 2011-09-14.
  37. ^ Sullivan, John (September 16, 2011). "Help sought as library forced to move". Times-Herald Record. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  38. Times-Herald Record
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  39. ^ Bosch, Adam (2011-09-09). "Region's parks took a pounding from heavy rains". Retrieved 2011-09-14.
  40. ^ a b c Horrigan, Jeremiah (September 19, 2011). "Farmers despairing over monumental losses of crops". Times-Herald Record. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  41. Times-Herald Record
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  42. ^ "Electricity Power Outages". NYSEG, accessed September 1, 2011
  43. ^ Novinson, Michael (September 3, 2011). "Shandaken 'screaming for answers'". Times-Herald Record. Archived from the original on June 6, 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  44. ^ Semple, Kirk (2011-09-04). "On Flood Plain, Pondering Wisdom of Rebuilding Anew". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-09-14.
  45. ^ Kinsman, Kat (2011-09-14). "Amid devastating New York flooding, a stream of information". Cable Network News. Retrieved 2011-08-29.
  46. ^ Eckholm, Erik (2011-08-31). "Covered Bridges, Beloved Remnants of Another Era, Were Casualties, Too". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-09-14.
  47. ^ Craig, Susanne (2011-09-04). "Radio D.J. in the Catskills Offered a Lifeline During the Storm". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-09-14.
  48. ^ Rosenberg, Noah; Applebome, Peter (2011-08-30). "In Catskill Communities, Survivors Are Left With Little but Their Lives". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-09-14.
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  51. ^ Phil Brown (5 October 2011). "Marcy Dam bridge washed away". Adirondack Explorer. Archived from the original on 25 June 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  52. ^ "DEC Issues Updated Notice on Trail Conditions & Closures and Campground Closures" (Press release). New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. 2011-09-08. Archived from the original on 2011-11-01. Retrieved 2011-09-14.
  53. ^ Rife, Judy (2011-09-05). "Commuters face post-storm woes". Times-Herald Record. Retrieved 2011-09-14.
  54. ^ Rife, Judy (2011-09-08). "Buses on way for rest of Port line". Times-Herald Record. Retrieved 2011-09-14.
  55. ^ "Port line workers assigned to rail lines in New Jersey". Times-Herald Record. 2011-09-08. Retrieved 2011-09-14.
  56. ^ Rife, Judy (September 16, 2011). "Part of Port line to reopen". Times-Herald Record. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  57. ^ Moses, Robert (November 23, 2011). "Metro North Port Jervis Line Set to Resume Service". Retrieved November 24, 2011.
  58. ^ Bosch, Adam (September 1, 2011). "Hayworth seeking to withhold disaster money unless it is offset by budget cuts". Times-Herald Record. Retrieved September 22, 2011. Hayworth, R-Mount Kisco, said she would only vote to replenish the federal disaster fund if new spending was offset by budget cuts. She said those cuts should come from 'non-defense discretionary spending.'
  59. ^ a b McKenna, Chris (2011-09-03). "Hayworth vows aid won't be tied to cuts". Times-Herald Record. Retrieved 2011-09-14.
  60. ^ Gibson, Megan (2011-09-20). "The Great Pumpkin Shortage: Stormy Summer Limits Supply In Northeast". Time. Retrieved 2012-02-18.
  61. ^ "Warwick Farm Aid Sept. 25, 2011". 2011. Archived from the original on September 24, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  62. ^ Horrigan, Jeremiah (September 19, 2011). "Not all farmers done in by floods". Times-Herald Record. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  63. ^ Bosch, Adam (September 19, 2011). "Ulster tourist train rolling on". Times-Herald Record. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  64. ^ Sunkin, Alyssa (2011-09-02). "DEC: Fuel spill in river contained". Times-Herald Record. Retrieved 2011-09-14.
  65. ^ "NJ TRANSIT Service Information for Tuesday, August 30". NJ Transit. 2011-08-29. Archived from the original on 2012-03-01. Retrieved 2011-09-14.
  66. ^ Whitman, Victor (September 16, 2011). "Monticello sinkhole may cost $1 million to repair". Times-Herald Record. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
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