Meteorologists measured pressure levels inside the storm that could have allowed it to strengthen back into a Category 3 hurricane , Myers said , but Irene 's romp over land in North Carolina prevented the eye wall from spinning into a more destructive storm by the time it arrived in New York . ` The storm largely spared New York City . A woman in Delaware said it was n't as bad as she thought . Irene has caused at least 18 deaths , though , and did major damage in many areas . Some say the potential for flooding remains .
The storm largely spared New York City . A woman in Delaware said it was n't as bad as she thought . Irene has caused at least 18 deaths , though , and did major damage in many areas . Some say the potential for flooding remains .