Irene Damage

The White House has estimated that Hurricane Irene will cost federal taxpayers USD 1.5 billion in disaster relief, further ballooning a government account that was already the focus of fresh partisan friction between President Barack Obama and Congress.

Even as the damages from hurricane Irene was far less than expected, President Barack Obama has said that many Americans are still at risks and it might take weeks for the recovery from devastation caused by the storm throughout the East Coast.

The US Open venue sustained "minimal damage" when Tropical Storm Irene lashed new York, and the US Tennis Association said on Sunday the tournament would start Monday with a few schedule changes.

As Tropical Storm Irene drenched New York and New England on Sunday, the states where the hurricane first made landfall faced a sun-drenched - yet often powerless - day to assess loss of life, property damage and widespread inconvenience that, while significant, fell short of the worst forecasts of catastrophe.

The White House has estimated that Hurricane Irene will cost federal taxpayers USD 1.5 billion in disaster relief, further ballooning a government account that was already the focus of fresh partisan friction between President Barack Obama and Congress.

Even as the damages from hurricane Irene was far less than expected, President Barack Obama has said that many Americans are still at risks and it might take weeks for the recovery from devastation caused by the storm throughout the East Coast.

The US Open venue sustained "minimal damage" when Tropical Storm Irene lashed new York, and the US Tennis Association said on Sunday the tournament would start Monday with a few schedule changes.

As Tropical Storm Irene drenched New York and New England on Sunday, the states where the hurricane first made landfall faced a sun-drenched - yet often powerless - day to assess loss of life, property damage and widespread inconvenience that, while significant, fell short of the worst forecasts of catastrophe.