Hurricane Isabel Response Began Early, Still Costs Soared

Prior to Hurricane Isabel's landfall on September 18, response activities were already underway. Early issuance of state of emergency declarations and federal disaster declarations made funding available and enabled state and local government officials to initiate disaster management procedures including opening emergency operations centers and mobilizing the National Guard and other prescribed emergency support functions. Regions that required either state or federal assistance included:

•  Delaware –– 9-20-03 (presidential disaster declaration)

•  Maryland –– 9-19-03 (presidential disaster declaration)

•  New Jersey –– 9-18-03 (state of emergency)

•  North Carolina –– 9-18-03 (presidential disaster declaration)

•  Pennsylvania –– 9-18-03 (state of emergency)

•  Virginia –– 9-18-03 (presidential disaster declaration)

•  Washington, D.C. –– 9-20-03 (presidential disaster declaration)

•  West Virginia –– 9-20-03 (presidential disaster declaration)

As Hurricane Isabel approached, state and local officials, as well as other emergency response organizations, took various precautions in efforts to mitigate threats to human life and property damages. Federal, state and local government entities issued warnings well in advance of the Hurricane and schools and public offices were closed in advance of storm conditions. On September 17, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced that all federal government offices would be closed the following day. This announcement marked the first time that the threat of a hurricane caused federal offices to close. 1

Despite severe flooding associated with Hurricane Isabel, had the Hurricane reached earlier projected proportions or had it not been for existing flood protection measures, presumed damages would have been far greater. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) officials projected that federally constructed levees and reservoirs on the North and South Branches of the Potomac River prevented nearly $45 million in potential flood damage to homes and businesses during Hurricane Isabel. 2

In repairing flood damage to roads, bridges and flood control mechanisms, USACE coordinated with various authorities and managers including county and state officials, FEMA, the US Fish & Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, and various state departments of transportation. 3

According to FEMA reports, disaster aid in the two months after Hurricane Isabel exceeded $380 million. Recent reports outlined the following disbursement of funding for Washington, DC and the six “declared” states: 4

• Delaware––$14.7 million
• Maryland––$89.66 million
• North Carolina––$113.39 million
• Pennsylvania––$1.17 million
• Virginia––$155.97 million
• Washington, DC––$4.68 million
• West Virginia––$2.06 million

Disaster aid encompassed various grants for individual and community needs including: 5

• $71.2 million in approved grants for housing requirements
• $42.4 million for disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other assistance programs
• $104.6 million in obligated funds to state and local governments for rehabilitating damaged infrastructure, costs associated with debris removal as well as emergency protective measures
• $43 million in mission-assigned assistance for critical emergency needs and support for long-term recovery

Among the impacted states, Virginia suffered the most costly damage as a result of Hurricane Isabel. Flooding caused the greatest extent of damage throughout the affected states, with the worst flooding in some areas of Virginia since 1972. According to Michael Cline, Director of the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, the state sustained $1.6 billion in storm damage –– not including the economic loss associated with closed businesses and damaged goods and properties. Cline observed that five million people experienced power outages, and 231 communities issued water advisories. 6

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