Hurricane Irene has been downgraded to tropical storm status after battering New York City with powerful rains and winds on Sunday. Hundreds of thousands of people who were evacuated earlier from their residences in low-lying areas are now allowed to return home. After shutting down one of the most happening cities in the U.S., the storm has also halted all means of public transportation throughout New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore and New Jersey. The fiercest storm to hit the US East Coast for years has knocked out power for about 3 million people, after hitting Maryland's Ocean City with 12 inches of rain.15 people have died across the states due to the storm.