{"id":3844,"date":"2011-08-29T16:23:23","date_gmt":"2011-08-29T22:23:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/?p=3844"},"modified":"2011-08-29T16:23:23","modified_gmt":"2011-08-29T22:23:23","slug":"hurricane-irene-set-to-become-nations-10th-billion-dollar-disaster-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/national-weather\/hurricane-irene-set-to-become-nations-10th-billion-dollar-disaster-of-the-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Hurricane Irene set to become nation’s 10th billion dollar disaster of the year"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Satellite<\/a>
Satellite imagery from NOAA shows Hurricane Irene, then a tropical storm, making landfall in New York City. (NOAA) Click the image to view a slideshow on Examiner.com of Irene's impact.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Atlantic’s first major hurricane struck the United States over the weekend becoming the first hurricane to make landfall in the country since 2008.\u00a0 It adds to the nation’s tally of billion dollar disasters this year and leaves at least two dozen people dead in its wake.<\/p>\n

As reported by the Natural Disasters Examiner<\/a>, initial damage estimates put losses from the storm \u00a0at $7 billion.\u00a0 Total losses including the economic impact may approach $20 billion.<\/p>\n

More than the economic impact though is the human toll.\u00a0 At latest count, at least 26 people were killed in the massive storm.\u00a0 Eight states stretching from Florida to Connecticut saw citizens lose their lives.<\/p>\n

For complete coverage of Hurricane Irene, check out the links from the Natural Disasters Examiner below:<\/p>\n