Early estimates of the direct damage caused by Hurricane Irene are in the range of $7 billion. Add to those the loss of about one or two days economic activity, spread over a week across 25 percent of the economy, and an initial estimate of the losses imposed by Irene is about $25 to $30 billion.
However, rebuilding after Irene, especially in an economy with high unemployment and underused resources in the construction and building materials industries, will unleash at least $7 billion in new direct private spending — likely more as many folks rebuild larger than before, and the capital stock that emerges will prove more economically useful and productive.
Regarding the latter, consider a restaurant with inadequate patronage — its owner invests the insurance settlement in a new more attractive business. On the shore, older smaller homes on large plots are replaced by larger dwellings that can accommodate more families during the summer tourist season.


