Irene was bad, but no Armageddon

In the days and hours during which Hurricane Irene was on her way, we seemed to be in for something approaching Armageddon. Officials responded with extensive evacuations and, at least in the case of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, an unprecedented shutdown.

The really bad storm we got -- one that washed away dunes, felled trees, closed bridges, flooded roads and left nearly half a million Long Islanders without power -- will be remembered mostly for the property damage it left behind, not a devastating human toll. Some officials may have overreacted from an excess of caution, but had they not done so, and had the storm been as powerful as experts predicted, imagine the result.

Now we must get busy rebuilding. It won't be easy. Long Islanders will need to be patient as crews work to restore power over the coming days or longer. Since the storm damaged private property and public works all over the region, it will take time and money to get back to normal. Stressed budgets are about to become even more stressed, making federal aid essential.

And remember that when Irene cut a swath along the eastern seaboard, it also cut a nasty swath through a U.S. economy suffering the aftereffects of a severe financial crisis and recession. If nothing else, perhaps the devastation -- yet to be fully assessed -- can at least make work for some of the many people who need it.

That's not a bad silver lining from a storm that could have been a lot worse. hN