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New York gets back to work
IT was business as usual in New York yesterday after the feared battering from hurricane Irene was less severe than previously expected.
The death-toll hit 30 last night, as residents began to count the cost of the damage. Analysts say the total bill could be as high as $7bn (£4.3bn), with less than half of this being covered by insurance.
Meanwhile, Wall Street closed three per cent up as investors braved the water-logged transport system to hit the trading floor.
Mayor Bloomberg faced criticism for his decision to order the evacuation of some areas and a shut down of the city’s mass transit system. Irene was downgraded to a tropical storm before it hit but still ravaged parts of New York and Vermont.