by Rachel Piburn
Hurricane Irene hit the entire East Coast; Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and parts of West Virginia, on August 27, 2011. The eye of the storm at 30° N latitude and 77° W longitude; just below the state boarders of Florida and Georgia, started its hardest rampage of 100% damage in North Carolina. The storm hit hard across the sea board states, mainly North Carolina, Virginia, and Delaware. At 50% to 70% damage pounded its way along the most northern states; Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Irene, at Category 1 hurricane, left several people dead in Hispaniola due to heavy precipitation and strong winds. After screaming like a runaway train through Hispaniola, Irene targeted the small islands of Turks and Caicos and passed through the Bahamas at the strength of a Category 3 hurricane. On August 22, 2011, Irene made its first landfall at Puerto Rico as a real hurricane of strength. This first initiation of high winds and intermittent torrents caused major property damage to the island. The hurricane made its first U.S. landfall on Saturday, August 27, 2011 across Eastern North Carolina’s Outer Banks. The second landfall Irene made was to become the first hurricane to make landfall in the state of New Jersey since 1903; more specifically the Little Egg Inlet of New Jersey. From there the storm kept curving its way north past Maine and Vermont to Canada.
Just days after Hurricane Irene rampaged through the entire East Coast, resorts and beaches are proudly saying they will be open for Labor Day weekend. Water and electricity are returning to North Carolinas Outer Banks after hard-hitting hurricane-force winds, but politicians and business owners are telling tourists to stick to their travel plans. Celina Moose, the manager of a kite store in Kitty Hawk on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, says that the only key to business is getting the word out that beaches are open. She also says, “The beaches are open. The restaurants are open. We need tourists to come back.” By launching a page onto the world-wide known site of Facebook, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce hopes to get the word out there that places are open for business. The page lists what places are open, what places are closed, and also how to get to these places. Resorts such as Bally’s, Harrah’s and Caesars are serving up “Goodnight Irene” specials to generate business within their areas. These specials consist of lowering prices per night to guests. Tourism along South Carolina’s Grand Strand is expected to bounce back strongly, especially Myrtle Beach.
Clean up is in full swing along the Jersey Shore. Before the holiday break, the State Department of Transportation has been trying to repair roads long ahead travelers start to “rush” in, not there’s a big rush for vacations in a hurricane torn region. Casinos in Atlantic City have been reopened this week, only minimum cosmetic damaged was sustained to these magnificent and large cities of money. New Jersey Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno visited the city, “to remind residents and tourists that the Jersey Shore is a great place to visit following Hurricane Irene.” On Sunday, September 4, 2011, President Barack Obama will travel to Paterson, New Jersey to survey the damage created by Hurricane Irene. Floods still continue to rein the streets of Paterson, New Jersey, but good news is that the rain-swollen rivers are slowly receding.
Citations:
“Obama to Tour Hurricane Damage in New Jersey – Weather – Msnbc.com.” Msnbc.com – Breaking News, Science and Tech News, World News, US News, Local News- Msnbc.com. Web. 01 Sept. 2011. <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44338096/ns/weather/?ocid=ansmsnbc11>.
Weiss, Mitch, and Martha Waggoner. “Hurricane Irene 2011 Path: Where Is The Storm Going? (MAPS).” Breaking News and Opinion on The Huffington Post. Web. 01 Sept. 2011. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/24/hurricane-irene-path-maps_n_935195.html>.
“After Hurricane Irene, Beaches And Resorts Are Open For Labor Day Business | FoxNews.com.” FoxNews.com – Breaking News | Latest News | Current News. Web. 06 Sept. 2011. <http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2011/09/02/after-hurricane-irene-beaches-and-resorts-are-open-for-business/>.
“Hurricane Irene vs. Katrina: How They Stack Up | Hurricane Katrina & New Orleans | Tropical Storms & Natural Disasters | LiveScience.” Current News on Space, Animals, Technology, Health, Environment, Culture and History | LiveScience. Web. 06 Sept. 2011. <http://www.livescience.com/15813-hurricane-katrina-irene-comparison.html>.
20, August. “Hurricane Irene (2011).” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 06 Sept. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Irene_(2011)>.