US

Irene Responsible for at Least 8 Deaths

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Hurricane Irene had led to the deaths of eight people in four states as of Sunday morning:

- In Volusia County, Fla., 55-year-old Frederick Fernandez died Saturday off New Smyrna Beach after he was tossed off his board by massive waves caused by Irene. The Orlando Sentinel reports the high school teacher had a large cut on his head, apparently from hitting the sea floor. He was pronounced dead shortly after being pulled from the water.

- In Flagler County, Fla., 55-year-old tourist James Palmer of New Jersey died Saturday in rough surf. Family members say they lost sight of him after he waded into the surf in North Florida. He was pulled to shore and his wife attempted CPR, but he was pronounced dead at the hospital.

- In Nash County, N.C., a man was killed after a tree limb fell on him outside his home Saturday morning as outer bands from the storm brought near hurricane-force gusts inland.

- Goldsboro, N.C. police say a 15-year-old girl died Saturday afternoon after the SUV carrying her and family members collided with another SUV at an intersection where Irene had knocked out power to traffic lights. The victim and other family members were thrown from their SUV, and occupants of both vehicles were taken to the hospital. The girl’s family was returning to northern Virginia from a vacation in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

- Newport News, Va. authorities report that 11-year-old Zahir Robinson was killed when a large tree crashed through his apartment shortly after noon. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The boy’s mother, who was in the apartment, was not injured.

- In Brunswick County, Va, a tree fell across a car Saturday afternoon, killing 67-year-old James Blackwell of Brodnax. The driver was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

- Chesterfield County, Va. police say a man died at a Hopewell hospital Saturday after a tree fell on a house that he was inside with six other adults. A woman in the house was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

- In Queen Anne’s County, Md., a woman was killed when a tree fell on a house and caused the chimney to collapse. Another person in the house was not hurt.

Comments (23)

  • BenInNY
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 7:47pm

    They just confirmed another drowning near me: http://www.saratogian.com/articles/2011/08/28/news/doc4e5ac0a899659630905596.txt

    Report Post » BenInNY  
  • thegreatcarnac
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 5:49pm

    Three of them were news media types tripping over their own microphone cords.

    Report Post »  
  • Bernard
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 3:45pm

    Technically speaking when there is not a storm more people are likely to die. Since during a storm most people take all precautions and usually hunker down. But during normal times the highways take their toll, crime on the streets take their toll, etc. This is only a hunch but if one were to do the stats I bet more people die during normal times than when a storm of the strength of Irene would take

    Report Post »  
  • crypticguise
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 2:30pm

    I have the greatest sympathy for the individuals who were killed by accidents they couldn’t have prevented. However, the dopes surfing in these conditions and the people driving thru traffic signals don’t warrant a lot of sympathy. Their behavior killed them, not the weather or storm.

    Report Post »  
  • ddg7
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 11:52am

    Here’s a better headline, ‘Abortionists responsible for more than 50 deaths during Hurricane Ilene’.

    Report Post »  
    • Cesium
      Posted on August 28, 2011 at 1:33pm

      or “50 Aborted ghetto/whitetrash fetus’s during hurricane Irene prevent 50 murders of innocent people 20 years later”

      Report Post »  
  • RodT82721
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 11:32am

    Looks like Barry and the EPA are going to have to do something about all those trees killing people! New regulations that limit how close to your house a tree can be and how high it can be allowed to grow. A whole new force ot tree police!

    Maybe some tree labels – “CAUTION trees can be hazardous to your live! Trees can KILL – don’t stand closer to the base of the tree then the height in feet at it’s highest point!”

    Maybe just outlaw any trees over 6 feet in height on any residential lot! That should drive the tree-huggers nuts.

    Report Post »  
  • Ponyexpress
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 11:11am

    Time for Odumbo to name a Hurricane czar.
    Better yet, tax congress for all the hot air that caused Irene.
    What joke.
    I think what concerns me the most, is that all the media ran to government officials for their imput, forcasts and directions. From Janet Napolitano to governors , as if those idiots would know better than the citizens getting rained on.
    Do they think Christie ,Napolitano or Bloomberg could possibly make any differnece in what mother nature had planned?
    Talk about media frenzie. Idiots all.

    Report Post » Ponyexpress  
  • Ballot_Box_Revolution
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 10:58am

    I would say that Irene was responsible for only 4 of those deaths. The trees falling and killing people yes, but the others could have been avoided, even without EVACUATING….

    Nice try Media for trying to make this storm into something it wasn’t just to save your own a$$es from looking like idiots….

    Report Post » Ballot_Box_Revolution  
    • ruffnex
      Posted on August 28, 2011 at 12:24pm

      I agree…Only 4 were accidents…the others were stupidity.

      Report Post »  
  • hogtrashhd
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 10:57am

    Lordy lordy.. I hear a few trees went down.. how fiendish.. they should really punish mother nature.. I say a humonguous tax is in order on people who have trees on their property… come on.. this was sooooooooooo over hyped they all look foolish .. talk about keystone cop types.. Christie and Bloomberg are IDIOTS… they look like what they are.. knee jerk reactionaries and dare I say BULLIES.. that fatarse christie is a bad bad joke and bloomberg is just insane.. the msm and some cable shows look more ridiculous than usual for their coverage of this crap..

    Report Post »  
    • Ballot_Box_Revolution
      Posted on August 28, 2011 at 11:12am

      Yeah every time there was something good that happened…like a storm downgrade, they actually said “Do not pay attention to that” WHAT?!?!? are you kidding me?

      We all love the line “Keep on moving, nothing to see here.” they did said this without even trying to hide it….hahahha

      Report Post » Ballot_Box_Revolution  
  • vtxphantom
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 9:53am

    How many good souls died in Joplin. I also remember obama flying over the disaster on his way to a fund raiser. Where was all the gov. help on that one. obama takes over command of weather central on this and I’ll bet he is screwing things up big time

    Report Post »  
  • jharper
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 9:51am

    Sounds like HALF of them died of STUPIDITY. The media way over shoots the death toll. I remember years ago during Hurricane David, the media reported a death attributed to the storm. Someone had a heart attack crossing the street on their way to a shelter well before the storm hit. AHHHH…the drama!

    Report Post »  
  • Gypsy123
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 9:37am

    Some of these deaths was just being stupid. The ones that were accident that is really sad.
    You don’t go out in a hurricane to ride waves and put on your seat belts people.

    Report Post » Gypsy123  
  • tifosa
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 8:48am

    One man’s “blessing” (Beck) is another 10′s deaths, millions without power, businesses disrupted/destroyed.

    Report Post » tifosa  
  • Ronald Wilson
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 8:45am

    Add one more

    - Tom Green County, TX., Incessant coverage of a minor hurricane causes a man to die of boredom.

    Report Post » Ronald Wilson  
  • Secessionista
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 8:22am

    I don’t think that surfers should count towards the death toll from any hurricane – these peoples’ deaths should be entered under “suicide”. RIP anyway. The car accident, no, that is an automobile accident. unless we are going to count as a negative all of he people who did NOT have accidents because they were indoors. That leaves us with 5 deaths, and an abnormal number of them caused by trees and tree limbs crashing down.

    Report Post » Secessionista  
    • loriann12
      Posted on August 28, 2011 at 8:36am

      I agree. You beat me to the statement. One was surfing like an idiot, and the other (car accident) someone didn’t know when the power is off it becomes a 4 way stop. duh. The tree limb accidents were the only ones I’d say were storm caused.

      Report Post »  
    • RepubliCorp
      Posted on August 28, 2011 at 9:04am

      I was thinking the same

      Report Post » RepubliCorp  

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