The only significant part left is the storm surge, it's not dropping at the same rates as the wind hence the threats of flooding.
Lets put this into perspective if we can, in meteorological terms Irene is NOT a major event, low level cat 3 at worst and it made landfall with max sustained speeds of 80knots gusts to 115-120kts, those dissipate very quickly on landfall because they lose the heat from the seas which perpetuate the storm.
We have storms with winds of that level brushing the extreme parts of the UK once or twice every few years, northern Isles, Hebrides etc. The blanket coverage of this is the where and potential impacts rather than the pure effect that the word hurricane conjures. Think back to the big storm that hit the sarf east in 1987, blanket coverage it was a massive issue but a week later a storm with higher sustained winds, higher gusts and rainfall but I heard nothing about it on Scottish TV never mind national TV. Major events come around because of the media, the possible impact and hype....boring isn't it!