High winds and torrential rain have begun to lash New York as hurricane Irene moves up of the east coast of the United States. The storm covering about nine hundred kilometer area is reported to have caused at least 8 deaths.Hurricane Irene is moving its way slowly of America's east coast although less ferocious than it was when it was crossed the Atlantic. It is none the less packing 80 mile an hour winds and it is expected to cause widespread flooding. The biggest fear is of a storm which could breach the flood in New York' lower Manhattan and affect the financial district there.Three hundred and seventy thousand people have been evacuated from low lying areas in the city. The subway system has been shut down and all New York's airports have been closed. A short while ago the Mayor of New York urged eight million residents to stay indoors until the storm passes this afternoon.