(AP) -- North Carolina's governor says Hurricane Irene destroyed more than 1,100 homes and cost the state at least $70 million in damages.
During a news conference Tuesday in Manteo, Gov. Beverly Perdue said the intensity of the storm and the rain that hit North Carolina caused significant harm. But she reiterated that state beaches are open as Labor Day approaches.
Perdue says the damage estimate is very preliminary and based only on what officials have seen so far. Officials said the first counties to be considered for federal disaster help will be Dare, Craven, Beaufort, Tyrrell, Carteret, Pamlico and Hyde.
The governor spoke along with the federal secretaries of Homeland Security and Agriculture and Sen. Kay Hagan.
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