effects hurricane virginia effects hurricane virginia proved disaster history virginia hurricane formed tropical wave september tropical atlantic_ocean moved northwestward environment light wind shear warm waters steadily strengthened reach peak winds mph september fluctuating intensity days gradually weakened landfall winds mph september quickly weakened land passed central virginia extratropical western pennsylvania september strong winds hurricane affected counties cities state downed thousands trees left million power storm surge impacted southeastern portion state peaking feet richmond surge caused significant damage homes nationwide maximum rainfall total hurricane inches virginia state mountainous region heavy rainfall caused severe damaging flash flooding hurricane caused billion usd billion usd damage deaths state directly storm effects indirectly related preparations days landfall weather models predicted landfall north_carolina new_jersey initially forecasters predicted coastline chesapeake_bay hurricane neared land predicted track closer ultimately national_hurricane_center issued hurricane watch north_carolina virginia border near border maryland hours struck land including southern portion chesapeake_bay hours hurricane landfall national_hurricane_center upgraded watch hurricane warning entire coastline additionally inland hurricane tropical storm warnings issued south central virginia office issued tornado warnings counties tornadoes office issued county wide flood warnings flood warnings flood statements river basins activated september days prior making landfall entering state officials issued mandatory evacuation state september hours prior landfall hours later mandatory evacuation issued residents norfolk recommended evacuation residents city suffolk northumberland richmond york counties later september governor provided authorization recommended evacuations mandatory time entered virginia late september evacuations issued portsmouth zones ordered evacuate included residents areas prone flooding potentially affected storm surge category hurricane low lying areas health care facilities islands tools officials determine evacuation zones included shelter locations storm surge model evacuation maps clearance times despite orders relatively small number people evacuated hurricane according telephone survey conducted highest participation rate residents areas potentially affected storm surge category hurricane survey stated left houses safer location category hurricane storm surge zone left participated survey left primary reasons choice evacuate track strength influence media participants survey stated hear sort evacuation notice public officials location evacuated left house friend relative evacuating hotel norfolk left state majority evacuated destinations neighborhood community evacuation destinations virginia varied leaving maryland staying neighborhood community length evacuation process varied hours days worst evacuation problems closed flooded roads assisted evacuations residents southeastern virginia told evacuate including vulnerable locations chesapeake_bay residents mobile home parks total people evacuated shelters reported problems shortages supplies medical issues lack security united_states_navy officials norfolk ordered destroyers frigates amphibious ships sea avoid potential damage hurricane officials ordered workers evacuate vulnerability flooding national_guard workers assisted boat owners southeastern portion state boat owners experienced fatal heart attacks worked protect boats officials distributed state residents flood prone areas including city alexandria prior arrival hurricane closed primary parkway famous moved volunteer firefighters grounds feet higher officials closed schools government offices businesses eastern portion state leaving usually heavily roads streets additionally officials canceled trains washington metro amtrak lines flights richmond international airport impact state resulted damage total billion usd billion usd hurricane destroyed homes businesses severely damaged homes businesses left homes businesses minor damage state hurricane generated estimated dump trucks debris people directly killed storm hundreds injured total million electrical customers left power electrical damage totaling million usd million usd reported broken utility poles snapped spans downed power lines primary distribution circuits damaged passage hurricane resulted agricultural damage total million usd million usd peninsula eastern shore virginia produced sustained winds reaching mph gusts mph island higher unofficial gusts recorded including peak reading mph rainfall fairly light inches recorded hurricane produced foot storm surge flooding island combination surge waves resulted minor beach erosion reported million crop damage usd million usd person died tree fell mobile home region produced high storm surge including reports feet peak feet gloucester point unofficially higher amounts included estimate feet locations surge surpassed previous record set hurricane despite classified hurricane crossing state sustained winds peaked mph gloucester point mph minimum hurricane intensity hurricane force wind gusts recorded multiple locations mph reading gloucester point unofficial reports peaking mph additionally located miles east reported peak wind gust mph hurricane produced heavy rainfall area reaching inches outer rainbands spawned foot wide tornado near confirmed tornado passage hurricane people city norfolk reported tornado city tornado lasted short time caused known damage strong waves reached feet height offshore caused severe beach erosion locations western shore chesapeake_bay 15th street fishing pier significantly damaged intense wave action likewise historic harrison pier area norfolk completely destroyed private piers public ones coastline destroyed damaged waves storm surge including destroyed pier moderate winds caused light damage roofs siding homes hotels beach erosion coastal flooding minimal credited million beach expansion project bridges area closed hurricane strong storm surge surpassed workers attempted close gate million gallons water flooded tunnel entirely minutes workers barely able escape flooding left tunnel damaged closed nearly month heavy rainfall led moderate severe inland flooding high waters reported route route roads rainfall led river flooding including minor moderate flooding moderate flooding moderate major flooding rivers driver attempted cross high water killed water washed car road unusually large wind field uprooted thousands trees downed power lines damaged hundreds houses snapped thousands telephone poles cross arms hundreds roads including major highways blocked fallen trees emergency evacuation shelter reported minor wind damage people region died falling trees city power outages left traffic lights working resulting multiple minor car accidents additionally gas stations closed power outages leaving pumps old dominion university remained closed weeks storm damage power issues longest closed school term likewise regent university experienced significant closing times storm damage lack electricity northern funnel clouds reported hurricane produced strong storm surge northern virginia reaching feet alexandria rainfall light region amounts varying inches storm surge washed homes additional units reporting minor severe damage flooding surge destroyed broke boats free docks alexandria flooded numerous businesses severely section railway tracks collapsed surge gusty winds downed trees alexandria causing million damage usd million usd flooding downed trees destroyed houses damaged homes severely storm surge flooded parking lot reagan national airport damage county totaled million usd million usd falling trees caused major damage homes city damage totaled million usd million usd homes businesses severely damaged additional reporting lesser damage winds falling trees gusty winds forced closure governor seven homes destroyed homes businesses experiencing major damage roads closed downed trees reported severe damage amounting million usd million usd damage included destroyed marina flooding falling trees damaging buildings vehicles additionally fallen trees severely damaged homes caused minor damage roof shelter partially blown power caused weather radio station air height storm leaving service days central southwest tornado reported near later confirmed storm surge tracked central portion state site richmond reporting estimated surge feet river miles confluence lower chesapeake_bay additionally widespread areas heavy rainfall inches led flooding rivers richmond set new daily rainfall record precipitation strong winds reported region wind gusts reached mph richmond international airport storm surge significantly damaged destroyed homes particularly towns virginia tidal rivers caught residents surprise height severity man drowned crashing flooded creek winds downed trees area hit homes vehicles strong winds removed mobile home foundation destroyed falling trees killed area city richmond downed trees snapped power lines leaving customers richmond area power portion roof diamond home damaged winds wet conditions caused accidents roadways central virginia interstate richmond died crashed car popular forest property destroyed falling oak tree people killed car drove road crashed tree heavy rainfall man died struck tree people died car southern crashed tree deaths considered indirectly related storm south central virginia strong winds produced widespread wind damage numerous trees power lines reported homes destroyed suffered minor damage residence suffered minor damage home reported major damage home destroyed reported major damage business suffered minor damage homes destroyed homes suffered major damage businesses suffered minor damage storm destroyed home damaged severely damaged businesses caused crop damage monetary damage region totaled million usd million usd intense rainbands produced heavy rainfall peaking inches sustained winds area ranged mph wind gusts reached mph strong winds downed numerous trees power lines causing power outages rainfall led extensive flash flooding river flooding including tributaries rainfall caused extensive surface runoff higher led flow emergency dams flooded causing damage failed mills creek dam water reached feet emergency spill way causing damage dam usd water flowed mph washing bridge feet asphalt locations state route rapidly flooded nearly feet destroying bridges flooding downtown businesses feet feet water emergency management personnel evacuated people ensuing flooding caused property damage usd usd evacuated boat damages public roads equipment area estimated million usd million usd homes destroyed businesses reporting major damage reported foot mud homes damage totaled million usd million usd man high flood waters drowned drowned horse crossing low water bridge flooding killed head livestock aftermath day moving state president declared counties independent cities disaster areas making residents business owners eligible federal funding additionally funds allocated state local governments designated jurisdictions pay eligible cost debris removal emergency services related hurricane including requested emergency work undertaken federal government jurisdictions added based subsequent damage reports september jurisdictions eligible disaster assistance provided hurricane related including safety tips method removing hazardous materials days passage hurricane distributed million million ice million gallons water areas affected disaster recovery centers contain information aftermath process opened locations received inquiries visited homes verify damages caused end september completed response power outages installed generators disaster affected critical public facilities support life sustaining community needs months hurricane individuals designated areas applied disaster assistance people visited state approved low interest disaster loans homes businesses value loans totaling million usd million usd government provided million usd million usd debris removal emergency protective services permanent work approved million usd million usd life sustaining needs water ice generators critical public facilities monetary assistance temporary rental assistance minimal home repairs totaled million usd million usd volunteer agencies arrived state assist aftermath hurricane days volunteers served meals affected residents meals served month cleanup operation volunteer organizations coordination virginia disaster worked help individuals debris removal state dominion quickly began restore widespread power outages workforce working hours day days storm remained power days storm state power days total dropped area improper use generators caused indirect storm deaths carbon poisoning resulting improper ventilation homes result runoff storm surge heavy rains forbade gathering virginia portion chesapeake_bay rivers flowing bay
Effects of Hurricane Isabel in Virginia