Cuomo: Irene damage devastating

New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo says an aerial tour of upstate New York confirms the damage caused by Tropical Storm Irene is devastating.

At an afternoon news conference, the governor and director of State Operations Howard Glaser spelled out the response so far but warned there is much more work to be done.

Glaser says more than 808,000 people remain without power, down from about 945,000 earlier Monday. Depending on where customers live, it could be next week before power is restored. Rural areas will come on line later.

There have been 191 rescues, 124 in the Catskills region alone. More than 4,500 emergency personnel are working and heavy equipment has been brought in.

Cuomo says the damage has been tremendous but "will get worse before it gets better."