Most of us hike in trail runners, rather than boots, these days. I was a boot holdout for years but finally made the switch two years ago. I'll never go back to boots!
Steel-toed boots have their uses, but definitely not for hiking and backpacking! The lighter the footwear, the better. From
the home page of this site: Assuming the "1 pound on the foot is equal to 5 pounds on the back" theory is true, trading-in the 4 pound boots for a pair of 1 3/4 pound running shoes (with vibram soles) would decrease your relative pack weight approximately 11 1/4 pounds! It's at least worth a second thought!
I join you in wishing the best for those on the east coast. Irene doesn't sound like a particularly nice lady!
EDIT--since trail runner-type shoes can be worn around town and at home (I wear them all the time, except for going to church), they definitely are multi-purpose.