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Hurricane Irene Reportedly Responsible For Six Deaths
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Aug 27, 2011
Modified Aug 27, 2011
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By
Christopher Robbins
Published Aug 27, 2011
Modified Aug 27, 2011
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Whether or not you believe that the danger from Hurricane Irene is being over-hyped, Mayor Bloomberg is correct to stress in a press conference earlier today that, "in the wrong place at the wrong time, [hurricanes] can be fatal." Six deaths have been attributed to Hurricane Irene so far.
The deaths include a driver in North Carolina who died after driving into standing water, a surfer who was fatally injured due to rough surf, and three people who died from falling tree limbs, CNN reports. The sixth fatality was the result of a heart attack as a man prepared his house for the emergency.
As Irene tore up the eastern seaboard, it spawned a tornado in North Carolina, and emergency crews on the border of Virginia and North Carolina were forced to stop responding to calls due to perilous conditions. Two individuals have reportedly been arrested in Virginia Beach, Virginia for looting, something Mayor Bloomberg doesn't think will happen here.
Currently, there are more than 1 million homes and businesses without power in North Carolina and Virginia, as Irene is scheduled to reach New York City by around 9 p.m.
Tagged
bloomberg
deaths
hurricane irene
hurricanes
mayor bloomberg
North Carolina
virginia
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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