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D.C. Appears To Escape Worst Of Hurricane Irene

 

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The District of Columbia's emergency management director says Washington appears to have weathered Hurricane Irene with fewer problems than other parts of the mid-Atlantic region.

 

Millicent West says the biggest problems in the district are power outages and downed trees. She says about 29,000 homes are without power, and there are roughly 200 trees down around the city, with new reports still coming in.

 

West says she's gotten no reports of deaths or serious injuries. She says flooding has been minimal so far, although there is some standing water in low-lying areas, including the Southwest Waterfront. The Southeast-Southwest Freeway was closed briefly overnight but has reopened. A flood warning remains in effect, but major flooding is not expected.

 

Some roads are blocked by fallen trees and debris.

 

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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