Clear-up begins as Isabel leaves trail of chaos
The east coast of America was mopping up after Hurricane Isabel today, while some tourists accused Washington of “overkill” for shutting down.
The storm was blamed for more than a dozen deaths and left four million people without power.
But the decision to virtually close down the US capital found little favour with visitors.
Offices, monuments and subway tunnels were shut down as the federal government remained closed for a second day.
Officials said they were exercising “an abundance of caution” in taking the decision.
But as the storm passed with minimal effect on Washington, tourist Sandra de Dubovay, from Los Angeles, said: “I think it’s a little overkill. Some people only have a day here. It is frustrating.”
North Carolina and Virginia bore the brunt of Isabel yesterday, hit by 100mph winds and 40ft waves.
Today, the storm was moving through Pennsylvania and western New York state but winds had dropped to 40mph.
The weather system was downgraded to a tropical storm and should dissipate over Canada by tomorrow.
The mopping up task began today, as power lines and properties were repaired and fallen trees were shifted.
There were still fears of flash flooding from swollen rivers and many people were advised to boil drinking water.
President George Bush declared major disasters in North Carolina and Virginia, ordering federal aid to both states.
But most people were thankful that Isabel did not prove as costly or deadly as Hurricane Floyd in 1999.
That storm left 56 dead and caused billions of dollars worth of damage.
