With more than 4 million people having lost power, many areas dealing with dangerous flooding and major transportation systems still not at full speed, much of the U.S. East Coast has plenty to do get past the effects of the former Hurricane Irene. Here is a look at this and other stories that CNN plans to follow this week:

Flooding a concern after Irene

The U.S. government estimated that the cost from wind damage alone from Irene - which made its first U.S. landfall as a hurricane Saturday morning in North Carolina before slamming into New Jersey on Sunday morning - is expected to top $1 billion.

Wind damage isn't the only problem. Flooding is expected to get worse Monday morning in the area of Vermont's capital, where water could rise as high as 20 feet - above the 17.5 feet that led to substantial flooding in May in Montpelier. Flood warnings and watches were in effect Sunday night for much of the Northeast, and people in parts of North Carolina are dealing with homes left awash by storm surges and overflowing rivers.

Many closed airports and subway systems will resume operations on Monday, but some slower than others: Though New York's LaGuardia airport will open to arrivals and departures at 7 a.m. ET Monday, John F. Kennedy and Newark Liberty airports will reopen to arrivals only on Monday morning, with departures not resuming until noon.

Tidal storm surges and overflowing, fast-moving rivers left homes in North Carolina and points northward awash. Flood warnings and watches were in effect Sunday night for much of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, eastern New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

Typhoon targets Taiwan, China

The slow-moving and deadly Typhoon Nanmadol is expected to turn to China after crossing over Taiwan on Monday.

The storm killed at least seven people in the Philippines late last week, including two children who died in a landslide.

Rebels head to Gadhafi's hometown

After capturing much of Libya's capital last week, rebels are advancing toward Moammar Gadhafi's hometown of Sirte.

Gadhafi, who ruled Libya for four decades, and his family are fugitives, hunted by the rebel forces that toppled his government after a six-month revolt backed by Western airpower. Rebel fighters picked through his family's seaside homes on Sunday, finding high-end stereo equipment, hot tubs and wines valued at hundreds of dollars a bottle.

Rebel spokesman Shamsuddin Ben Ali said rebel forces have taken over the western Libyan city of Ben Jawad, about 100 miles east of Gadhafi's hometown. And a senior rebel military official said about 14,000 rebel fighters were ready to "liberate" Sirte, but have given Gadhafi forces there until Monday to disarm and let the rebels enter the city peacefully.

Petraeus retiring from Army on Wednesday

U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus, an architect of modern-day counterinsurgency operations who was the top U.S. commander in Iraq and Afghanistan, will retire from the Army on Wednesday as he prepares to become the next Central Intelligence Agency director.

Petraeus is scheduled to become CIA director on September 6, having been confirmed to the post over the summer.

Once the top U.S. commander in Iraq, he took over U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan in July 2010 after a Rolling Stone magazine article prompted the resignation of  Gen. Stanley McChrystal. After being confirmed to the CIA post, Petraeus transferred his authority in Afghanistan to Marine Corps Gen. John Allen last month.

U.S. Open begins Monday, despite Irene

Top-ranked Novak Djokovic will try to get his third Grand Slam title of the year, bringing a 57-2 record for 2011 into the U.S. Open in New York this week.

The tournament begins Monday at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, which organizers said was spared major damage when Irene came through on Sunday.

In women's singles, top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki is looking for her first Grand Slam title.