WCBS 880 Tri-State Top 11 Of 2011: No. 1 - Irene
NEW YORK (WCBS 880) - We've reached the end of our countdown of the top 11 Tri-State Area news stories of 2011. The number 1 story has a name, and she sure left her mark.
WCBS 880's Wayne Cabot With The Story
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"A hurricane watch has been issued for the Carolina coastline," said WCBS 880 chief meteorlogist Craig Allen as Irene made her way up the eastern seaboard.
"Monmouth and Ocean County, you're under a Hurricane watch," said CBS2 weatherman Lonnie Quinn on WCBS 880.
The Jersey Shore was evacuated.
"People sitting on the beach in Asbury Park, get the hell off the beach," said Gov. Chris Christie.
The airports and subways were closed.
"We hope for the best, but we prepare for the worst," said Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
All of that happened while the sun was still shining.
But Sunday morning, August 28, we knew the caution was called for.
Irene swept ashore in Brigantine, battered New Jersey, then crossed Coney Island at 9 a.m. on a path for New England.
Throughout its path, Irene caused widespread destruction, left millions without power and killed 56 people.
"We are now into day three of no electricity for hundreds of thousands of Long Islanders," reported WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs.
The Port Jervis Line was washed away as rivers kept rising.
SEE: Photos Of Irene's Damage From Chopper 880
"Much of Hoboken's south side is under water," reported WCBS 880's Levon Putney.
"I just started to cry," said Peggy Moffat of Cranford, who WCBS 880 reporter Sean Adams reported had three feet of water in her home after a sewer line backed up.
A week later, contaminated furniture and personal possessions festered on her front lawn. She said she was sick of bleach.
Schools opened late, using up snow days in September.
Even with all that Irene turned out not to have been a hurricane when it hit our area.
RELATED:
WCBS 880 Tri-State Top 11 Of 2011: No. 11 – Gov. Chris Christie
WCBS 880 Tri-State Top 11 Of 2011: No. 10 – Tour Bus Crashes
WCBS 880 Tri-State Top 11 Of 2011: No. 9 – Gay Marriage
WCBS 880 Tri-State Top 11 Of 2011: No. 8 – Leiby Kletzky
WCBS 880 Tri-State Top 11 Of 2011: No. 7 – Occupy Wall Street
WCBS 880 Tri-State Top 11 Of 2011: No. 6 – 9/11 Plus 10
WCBS 880 Tri-State Top 11 Of 2011: No. 5 – Tolls
WCBS 880 Tri-State Top 11 Of 2011: No. 4 – Earthquake
WCBS 880 Tri-State Top 11 Of 2011: No. 3 – Anthony Weiner
WCBS 880 Tri-State Top 11 Of 2011: No. 2 – Freak October Snowstorm
LISTEN: The Top 11 In 2011 Recap In Audio Form
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Do you think we left something out of our top 11 list? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
