Hospital Inundated With Births During Hurricane Irene

North Carolina’s New Hanover Regional Medical Center reports that there was a significant uptick in the number of babies born during Hurricane Irene. Seventeen babies were born while the hospital was on 18-hour lockdown on Friday and Saturday. “Certainly, it is noteworthy,” said spokeswoman Carolyn Fisher. “The normal average per day is more like 10 or 11.” Disappointingly, none of the moms chose to name their baby Irene, but perhaps we’ll see a surge in the name’s popularity nine months from now.