Tropical storm Irene slammed New York on Sunday night with strong winds and heavy rain after battering the eastern coast of the US where it left at least 14 people dead and millions without power. An emergency was declared in eight affected states on the eastern coast even as the hurricane monitors said wind speeds have diminished as the storm moved north.America's economic nerve centre New York virtually shut down as New Yorkers prepared for the onslaught of violent winds and flooding.