Up to 100 homes have been destroyed by a huge fire in a the flooded New York area of Queens.

Hurricane Sandy has the potential to cause some of the largest losses the global insurance industry has faced this year, but nothing that would strain insurers financially, aside from hurting earnings this quarter, analysts said.

Close to 400,000 people were ordered to evacuate coastal areas in the north-eastern US as cities and towns were braced for the onslaught of a “superstorm” threatening some 60m people along the country’s most heavily-populated corridor.

Tens of thousands of residents were ordered to evacuate coastal areas in the north eastern United States today as big cities and small towns across the US Northeast braced for the onslaught of a superstorm threatening some 60 million people along the most heavily populated corridor in the nation.

Hurricane Sandy headed north from the Caribbean – where it left nearly 60 dead - to threaten the eastern US today with sheets of rain, high winds and heavy snow as millions were warned to get out of its path.

Bubba Watson goes into the Barclays Tournament in Farmingdale, New York today with every reason to believe he can pick up his first win in the FedExCup play-offs.

A freak October storm knocked out power to more than 3.1 million homes and businesses across north-east America, with close to 2ft of snow falling in some areas.

A SNOWSTORM with a ferocity more familiar in February than October hit the US northeast over the weekend, knocking out power to 2.7 million people, snarling air and highway travel and dumping more than 2 feet of snow in a few spots as it slowly moved north out of New England.

IN an unexpected U-turn, it has been confirmed that Ireland are going to have Robbie Keane all to themselves for the Andorra and Armenia games next month.

The Susquehanna River and its tributaries in Pennsylvania and New York are receding from some of the highest floodwaters ever seen.

I’M STUFFING an onion up a chicken’s bottom. My husband’s sitting at the kitchen table, surfing for bike gadgets online and peeling potatoes.

TEN years ago, with the rubble of the World Trade Centre still smouldering away after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, prospective visitors to New York wondered whether they should put off their trips, or keep a respectful distance.

I’M STUFFING an onion up a chicken’s bottom. My husband’s sitting at the kitchen table, surfing for bike gadgets online and peeling potatoes.

More than 100,000 residents have been ordered to move away from a flood-swollen river in Pennsylvania as the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee dumped more rain across the US north east.

Aer Lingus passenger numbers increased 4.1% in August, according to figures released this morning.

AS is my usual habit I visited both All-Ireland hurling final counties in the last week, to see what they’re getting up to in training and to gauge for myself the feeling in both camps — and among both sets of supporters.

General Motors, Chrysler, Ford and Nissan reported surprisingly strong US sales in August, as car buyers shrugged off bad economic news and a major East Coast hurricane.

Thousands of people remain cut off by severe flooding in towns across Vermont, New Jersey and upstate New York as the death toll from Hurricane Irene climbs towards 50.

TRANSPORTATION was getting back to normal in most eastern states in the wake of Hurricane Irene, although some US towns still grappled with flooding and many homes were without electricity.

The full measure of Hurricane Irene's fury came into focus as the death toll passed 44, while towns in the northern US region of New England battled epic floods and millions were still without electricity.

RORY McILROY expects to be in Switzerland today after being delayed leaving New York by Hurricane Irene.

NEW YORK CITY was slowly getting back to business as usual after Hurricane Irene, but hundreds of thousands of people who normally travel in from the surrounding area faced a tortuous commute as flooding knocked out transit routes.

OIL rose to the highest level in more than a week in New York, climbing with equities on optimism that the economy willexpand and a report that US consumer spending gained in July.

Rory McIlroy expects to be in Switzerland tomorrow afternoon after being delayed leaving New York by Hurricane Irene.

Life in the New York area is returning to normal after Hurricane Irene left town and headed into Canada, leaving destruction in its wake.

A weakened but still dangerous Hurricane Irene slammed into the New Jersey shore with 75mph winds today after dumping a foot of rain on North Carolina and Virginia, killing nine people and knocking out power to at least two million homes.

A weakened but still dangerous Hurricane Irene slammed into the New Jersey shore with 75mph winds today after dumping a foot of rain on North Carolina and Virginia, killing eight people and knocking out power to at least two million homes.

Hurricane Irene is causing disruption to many flight services from Ireland to the east coast of the United States.

Hurricane Irene shut down New York and menaced other cities as it steamed up the East Coast of America, dumping a foot of rain on North Carolina and Virginia and knocking out power to two million homes and businesses.

Hurricane Irene opened its assault on the Eastern Seaboard today by lashing the North Carolina coast with wind as strong as 115 mph and pounding shoreline homes with waves.

American Dustin Johnson carded a six-under-par 65 today to claim his first PGA Tour title of the year at The Barclays in an event shortened to 54 holes due to Hurricane Irene.

All Aer Lingus flights scheduled to operate to and from New York today have been cancelled because of Hurricane Irene.

New York City's mayor has told residents who need to evacuate ahead of the anticipated arrival of Hurricane Irene that they should do so immediately.

Hurricane Irene has smashed into the North Carolina coast, forecasters said.

Mark Kuchar holds a one-shot lead after carding a second round six-under-par 65 at The Barclays in New Jersey.

Hurricane Irene zeroed in for a catastrophic run up the US East Coast as more than two million people were told to move to safer places, and New York City ordered America’s biggest underground system shut down for the first time because of a natural disaster.

CONOR NILAND and Louk Sorenson, Ireland’s top two-ranked tennis stars, last night qualified for the main draw of the US Open after victories in the third qualifying round at Flushing Meadows in New York.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON whipped up a storm of his own to keep his FedEx Cup chances alive and challenge for victory in the hurricane-threatened Barclays in New Jersey.

AIRLINES operating from Ireland to the east coast of America are warning that Hurricane Irene may disrupt operations over the next few days.

HURRICANE Irene caused extraordinary disruption Friday as it zeroed in for a catastrophic run up the Eastern Seaboard. More than two million people were ordered to move to safer places, and New York announced plans to shut down its entire network of subways for the first time because of a natural disaster.

QUALIFICATION for the group stages of the Europa League? One million euro. The emotional reward for the players, staff and supporters of Shamrock Rovers? Priceless.

Tropical storm-force winds from Hurricane Irene have begun lashing the east coast of the US, with the potential to cause billions of dollars in damage.

President Barack Obama says people in Hurricane Irene’s path should be prepared for the worst and take precautions now.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is advising Irish citizens travelling to or living in coastal areas of the east coast of the US from the Carolinas to New England to exercise caution.