Hurricane Irene paralyses life Tourists walk through Times Square as Hurricane Irene arrives in New York, August 27, 2011. Hurricane Irene closed in on New York on Saturday, shutting down the city, and millions of Americans on the East Coast hunkered down as the giant storm halted transport and caused massive power blackouts. (REUTERS) A signs announces that the beach is closed along the ocean broad walk on Coney Island, an area under mandatory evacuation ahead of Hurricane Irene, in New York, August 27, 2011. Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Saturday urged some 370,000 New Yorkers to heed mandatory evacuation orders and leave "right now," as Hurricane Irene approached, threatening a massive flood surge. (AFP) A woman makes a her across a pedestrian crosswalk on Brighton Beach, an area under mandatory evacuation ahead of Hurricane Irene, in New York, August 27, 2011. Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Saturday urged some 370,000 New Yorkers to heed mandatory evacuation orders and leave "right now," as Hurricane Irene approached, threatening a massive flood surge. (AFP) A man stands in front of an evacuation center in Brooklyn, ahead of Hurricane Irene, in New York, August 27, 2011. Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Saturday urged some 370,000 New Yorkers to heed mandatory evacuation orders and leave "right now," as Hurricane Irene approached, threatening a massive flood surge. (AFP) Two men enjoy the rough surf at the beach in Nags Head in the Outer Banks of North Carolina on August 27, 2011 as Hurricane Irene pounded the coast of North Carolina. Hurricane Irene clobbered the US east coast Saturday, killing at least three people and paralyzing air traffic before barreling north on course for a rare direct hit on New York City. (AFP) Waves continue to grow in size and violence as hurricane Irene moves up the East coast August 27, 2011 in Montauk, New York. The National Weather Service issued a hurricane watch for New York City, Long Island and all along the eastern seaboard. Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Saturday urged some 370,000 New Yorkers to heed mandatory evacuation orders and leave "right now," as Hurricane Irene approached, threatening a massive flood surge. (AFP) A woman and her daughter watch huge waves pound Nags Head Fishing Pier in Nags Head in the Outer Banks of North Carolina on August 27, 2011 as Hurricane Irene pounded the coast of North Carolina. Hurricane Irene clobbered the US east coast Saturday, killing at least three people and paralyzing air traffic before barreling north on course for a rare direct hit on New York City. (AFP) A man photographs huge waves pound Nags Head Fishing Pier in Nags Head in the Outer Banks of North Carolina on August 27, 2011 as Hurricane Irene pounded the coast of North Carolina. Packing winds of 85 miles (140 kilometers) an hour, Irene was a weakened but still massive category one storm when it made landfall at 8:00 am (1200 GMT) at Cape Lookout, North Carolina, near a chain of barrier islands. (AFP) Huge waves pound Nags Head Fishing Pier in Nags Head in the Outer Banks of North Carolina on August 27, 2011 as Hurricane Irene pounded the coast of North Carolina. Hurricane Irene clobbered the US east coast Saturday, killing at least three people and paralyzing air traffic before barreling north on course for a rare direct hit on New York City. (AFP) A family protect themselves from the wind and rain as they return to their car at Nags Head Fishing Pier in Nags Head in the Outer Banks of North Carolina on August 27, 2011 as Hurricane Irene pounded the coast of North Carolina. Hurricane Irene clobbered the US east coast Saturday, killing at least three people and paralyzing air traffic before barreling north on course for a rare direct hit on New York City. (AFP) Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Whats App Pin Interest