Hurricane Isabel was a long-lived Cape Verde hurricane that reached Category 5 status on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. It made landfall near Drum Inlet on the Outer Banks of North Carolina as a Category 2 hurricane. Isabel is considered to be one of the most significant tropical cyclones to affect portions of northeastern North Carolina and east-central Virginia since Hurricane Hazel in 1954 and the Chesapeake-Potomac Hurricane of 1933.

Increased vertical wind shear on 15 September caused Isabel to gradually weaken. The system weakened below major hurricane status (Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale) on 16 September. It maintained Category 2 status with 85-90 kt maximum winds for the next two days while the overall size of the hurricane increased. Isabel made landfall near Drum Inlet, North Carolina near 1700 UTC 18 September as a Category 2 hurricane, then weakened as it moved across eastern North Carolina. It weakened to a tropical storm over southern Virginia, then lost tropical characteristics as it moved across western Pennsylvania on 19 September. Extratropical Isabel moved northward into Canada and was absorbed into a larger baroclinic system moving eastward across south central Canada early the next day.

Surge values of 6-8 ft above normal levels were observed in the upper reaches of the Chesapeake Bay near Annapolis and Baltimore, Maryland and in most of the main stem rivers draining into the Chesapeake Bay. Water levels exceeded previous record levels established in the Chesapeake-Potomac Hurricane of 1933 in Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Annapolis.

Isabel caused widespread wind and storm surge damage in coastal eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia. Storm surge damage also occurred along Chesapeake Bay and the associated river estuaries. The current estimate for insured property damage is $1.685 billion - $410 million of it in Maryland.

The day before Isabel hit
view from our pier

This was our backyard before the storm

Star Marina-the marina behind our home

View looking down Bullneck creek from our deck

Another view looking down Bullneck Creek

Hurricane Isabel made her presence known during the middle of the night. The storm surge in our area was reported to be 3-5 foot higher than normal high tide by our local officials, earlier in the day. Imagine our surprise when at 2 AM the water began to rise and didn't stop. Rescue personnel began evacuations in our neighborhood and several other waterfront communities nearby. By 4 AM some of my neighbors homes were 3 feet underwater. We were lucky, the water only came up to the steps on our deck, and didn't flood the interior of our home. Unfortunately, we sustained foundation damage due to the flooding.

September 19th
Lots of water

Noon on September 19th
water has finally begun to recede

View looking down
Bullneck Creek

Towers and Merritt Park
underwater

The fate of the pier and the fence is unknown.

Humor in the face of tragedy-
don't think the rake is working.

Neighbors coming together to save a fishing boat.

The cleanup begins
not a single boat was lost
at the Marina.

Although the interior of the house wasn't underwater, we sustained monetary damages in the tens of thousands. Practically everything in the outbuildings was destroyed. Basic cleanup took weeks. Mold removal is still a fight daily. Repairs are still continuing a year later, and will hopefully be done within the next few months. We are still the lucky ones, as many of our neighbors are still living in FEMA trailers and do not have homes. Many homes have been condemned, many have been demolished. Some have finally started to rebuild.