Post-Hurricane Irene Update

For the most up to date information, check out the Hurricane Information Center.  If you're looking for more images of hurricane aftermath, find them on Flickr here, here, and here.

This past weekend, Hurricane Irene swept along the east coast, making landfall in North Carolina Saturday morning.  As it continued north, about 67 Service locations were in the storm’s path. While many areas missed the worst of the storm, others weren’t so lucky. 

Crews have been out to assess damage in the days following Irene, and we’ve got a recently updated state-by-state breakdown of locations affected by the storm.  The main concerns being structural or road damage, down trees, beach erosion, flooding or power loss. 

Newly created islet by Hurricane Irene near the border of Pea Island NWR. 

Photo Credit: Tom MacKenzie/USFWS

North breach in NC 12 at old maintenance shop at Pea Island NWR. 

Photo Credit: Tom MacKenzie/USFWS

The end of Beach Road and the damage caused to parking lots at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia from Hurricane Irene.

 Photo Credit: Lou Hinds/USFWS

Debris on Beach Road at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia after Hurricane Irene. 

As Hurricane Irene tore up the east coast, it blew through the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Basking Ridge, New Jersey leaving downed trees and flooded roads in its wake.

Despite all of the damage, Irene did bring some good news to those fighting the fire at Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia.  The 6,000-acre fire, burning for most of August, was doused by rain from the weekend’s storm.

The fire wasn’t extinguished completely though.  An aerial survey after the storm showed about 40 hotspots still smoking, which the fire team will continue attacking today.  

A helicopter flight over the Lateral West Fire burning on Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge after Hurricane Irene.  The foot of rain the area received was still not enough to fully extinguish the fire, which burned over 6,300 acres. 

Photo Credit: Mark Jamieson/USFWS.

For continued updates, check out our Hurricane Information Center. 

Images of the aftermath of Irene can be found on Flickr here, here, and here.