Thousands told to flee Hurricane Isabel's path
Cars, recreational vehicles and SUVs streamed inland from North Carolina’s coast as up to 90,000 people were urged to get out of the way of Hurricane Isabel, the most powerful storm in four years to menace the eastern US.
Isabel’s winds weakened yesterday to around 105 mph from a peak of 160 mph over the weekend.
But forecasters said the hurricane could strengthen when it crosses the warm waters of the Gulf Stream on a projected course that could take it straight into the Outer Banks island chain off North Carolina early tomorrow.
Coastal residents from South Carolina to New Jersey boarded up homes and businesses and stocked up on batteries, water and other supplies. North Carolina Governor Mike Easley declared a state of emergency, allowing him to use the National Guard and also seek federal disaster relief after the storm passes.
Mr Easley urged residents to evacuate low-lying coastal areas.
“Now is the time to prepare,” he said. “The course and intensity of this storm may change very quickly.”
Thousands of tourists and others abandoned parts of North Carolina’s Outer Banks as rough surf pounded the thin, 120-mile-long chain of islands.
By yesterday evening, grocery stores and restaurants were closed or shuttered and the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was barred to visitors. The main beach highway was unusually barren of traffic and the beaches nearly desolate.
“Even a lot of old salts are bailing out,” Brian Simmons said as he placed plywood across the window of Stoney’s Seafood in Avon. “I don’t know if it’s some vibe they feel or something.”
But some weather-tested residents treated the evacuation orders as just a suggestion.
“It’s easier to stay on the island,” Margie Brecker said as she and her husband boarded up their Christmas shop in Rodanthe and prepared to stay. “That way, we are right here when it’s time to clean up, and we’re able to help others.”
National Hurricane Centre director Max Mayfield said he was concerned people were not taking the storm seriously enough because it had weakened.
“We need to get people’s attention because this storm can cause a lot of damage and loss of life if people are unprepared,” he said.
At 1am Irish time today, Isabel was about 545 miles south east of North Carolina’s Cape Hatteras, moving north west at around 8 mph.
Up to 90,000 people were urged to evacuate the Outer Banks, according to Governor Easley’s office. And about 6,000 military personnel and their families on or near Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia, were ordered to leave.
After hitting land, Isabel could also spread heavy rain from North Carolina all the way to the New England states up the east coast.
The last major hurricane to threaten the mid-Atlantic coast was Floyd in 1999, causing 56 deaths.
