NY Avoids Full Force Of Tropical Storm Irene

New Yorkers are breathing a sigh of relief as the city escaped the full force of the hurricane that has battered America's East Coast, killing at least 14 people.

The dead, from North Carolina, Virginia and Florida, included an 11-year-old boy who died when a tree crashed through an apartment.

A 55-year-old surfer who had defied warnings to stay out of the waves was also killed.

The tropical storm, which was downgraded from a category one hurricane on Sunday, knocked out power supplies for homes and businesses up the coast, affecting some four million people.

One million of those affected live in New York and New Jersey.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie told NBC news that the damage caused by the storm would cost billions "if not tens of billions" of dollars to repair.

Torrential rain and winds were reported throughout New York and the National Weather Service issued a tornado alert.

The National Hurricane Centre had warned of a storm surge of up to eight feet in the Long Island and New York area.

New York - known as the city that never sleeps - is rarely hit by big storms and has an ageing infrastructure, leading many to issue dire warnings before Irene struck.

Authorities had taken unprecedented steps to prepare, including mandatory evacuations and a total shutdown of transport systems.

About 370,000 city residents who had been ordered to leave their homes were told they could return on Sunday afternoon.

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the Nasdaq Stock Market and the alternative BATS venue have all said they open for business on Monday as usual.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomburg said no deaths or injuries had been reported but he warned trains and buses may not be running again until Monday afternoon.

"All in all we are in pretty good shape," Mr Bloomberg said, adding that while it would be a "tough commute" to work there had been no long-term damage to the subway system.

All flights in and out of New York were cancelled as Irene approached, causing travel chaos across America and internationally.

Air travel in and out of New York area airports remained suspended on Sunday and was expected to resume late Monday afternoon "at best", according to Chris Ward, executive director of the Port Authority.

Oil refineries and nuclear power plants along the east coast were set to resume production after suffering little serious damage.