Effects of Hurricane Isabel in New York and New England

Infobox Hurricane Impact
Name=Hurricane Isabel
Type=Extratropical cyclone
Year=2003
Basin=Atl
Image location=Tropical Storm Isabel (Pennsylvania).jpg

Pennsylvania shortly before becoming an extratropical cyclone
Date=September 19, 2003
1-min winds=35
Gusts=
Da

Fatalities=2 direct
Areas=New York, New England
Rainfall=
Hurricane season=2003 Atlantic hurricane season
Series=Hurricane Isabel
Related=Hurricane Isabel RelatedThe effects of Hurricane Isabel in New York and New England were relatively minor and primarily limited to wind damage. Hurricane Isabel formed from a tropical wave on September 6 2003 in the tropical Atlantic Ocean. It moved northwestward, and within an environment of light wind shear and warm waters it steadily strengthened to reach peak winds of 165 mph (265 km/h) on September 11. After fluctuating in intensity for four days, Isabel gradually weakened and made landfall on the Outer Banks of North Carolina with winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) on September 18. It quickly weakened over land and became extratropical over western Pennsylvania the next day.

Damage in New York totaled $90 million (2003 USD, $105 million 2008 USD),cite web|author=Jack Beven & Hugh Cobb|year=2003|title=Hurricane Isabel Tropical Cyclone Report|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-01-30|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2003isabel.shtml] with Vermont reporting about $100,000 in damage (2003 USD, $117,000 in 2008 USD). Falling trees from moderate winds downed power lines across the region, causing sporadic power outages. Two people died as a result of the hurricane, both due to the rough surf from Isabel.

Preparations

Hours before Isabel made landfall on North Carolina, the National Hurricane Center issued a tropical storm warning for a portion of the southern Long Island coastline from the New Jersey/New York border to Moriches.cite web|author=Jack Beven & Hugh Cobb|year=2003|title=Hurricane Isabel Tropical Cyclone Report|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-01-30|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2003isabel.shtml] About a day before the hurricane moved ashore, forecasters estimated the hurricane possessed a 10% chance of passing within 75 miles (120 km) of New York City. Other portions of southern New England were estimated to have similar probabilities, with the same forecast predicting a 3% chance for it passing within 75 miles (120 km) of Eastport, Maine.cite web|author=Beven|year=2003|title=Hurricane Isabel Probabilities 45|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-01-30|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2003/prb/al132003.prblty.045.shtml?] By about two days before Isabel struck land until several hours after it moved ashore, forecasters predicted the storm to pass over western New York as a transitioning tropical cyclone before passing into Canada as an extratropical cyclone.cite web|author=National Hurricane Center|year=2003|title=Hurricane Isabel Advisory Archive|accessdate=2007-01-30|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2003/ISABEL.shtml]

New York Governor George Pataki urged residents to purchase emergency supplies and to fill cars with gasoline. The State Emergency Management Office began preparing for the hurricane about a week before it moved ashore. The office also issued a Level 1 emergency activation, with a planning unit readying contingency plans and in coordinating the efforts of other state offices. The state's National Guard began preliminary preparations for possible support efforts by reviewing the list of personnel able to be mobilized in the event of an emergency. Army and Air National Guard officials identified needed equipment in the event of an emergency, such as helicopters, generators, high-axle vehicles, and communications equipment. State police officers established contingency plans for personnel and equipment to assist as needed. The State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation ensured needed equipment were operational, and also secured buildings with sandbags to prevent flooding.cite web|author=Office of Media Relations|year=2003|title=Governor Pataki Announces State Gearing Up for Isabel|publisher=New York State Department of Transportation|accessdate=2007-01-31|url=https://www.nysdot.gov/portal/page/portal/news/press-releases/2003/2003209] Seven airlines allowed travelers potentially affected by the hurricane to reschedule their flights to a later date.cite web|author=Air Travel.com|year=2003|title=Changing Tickets in the Path of a Hurricane|accessdate=2007-01-31|url=http://airtravel.about.com/cs/airtravellinks/a/hurricane.htm]

Impact

The pressure gradient between a ridge and Isabel produced strong northeast winds of at least tropical storm force across southeastern New York.cite web|author=National Climatic Data Center|year=2003|title=Event Report for Southeast New York|accessdate=2007-01-31|url=http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~513200] Shinnecock Inlet recorded a peak gust of 52 mph (84 km/h). A station at LaGuardia Airport recorded a wind gust of 51 mph (82 km/h), where airplane flights averaged a 90-minute delay.cite web|author=CNN.com|year=2003|title=Isabel snarls air traffic in the East|accessdate=2007-01-31|url=http://www.greatdreams.com/isabel-2003.htm] The strongest winds occurred in the outer rainbands, during which many trees, tree limbs, and power lines fell across the region. In the New York metropolitan area, moderate winds downed 640 trees and 801 tree limbs. A man driving through Great Neck Estates was critically injured when a tree limb fell onto the car. Additionally, a falling tree branch hit a man in the head, resulting in a serious head injury. In and around New York City, about 1.1 million customers were left without power, though most outages were fixed by the day after the hurricane passed through the region.cite web|author=CNN News|year=2003|title=State-by-state assessment of damage from Isabel|accessdate=2007-02-01|url=http://www.sunbeltrentals.com/news/HurricaneIsabelAftermath.pdf] Offshore of Long Beach, rough waves killed a man while bodysurfing. Further to the northwest the winds were not as severe, though in some places in the south-central portion of the state the winds downed some trees. A falling tree hit and damaged a car in Cobleskill. The winds also knocked out power to about 3,000 customers in the Schoharie and eastern Mohawk Valleys.cite web|author=National Climatic Data Center|year=2003|title=Event Report for South-Central New York|accessdate=2007-01-31|url=http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~513204] In the northeast portion of the state, a few trees and power lines were blown down in Moriah, Westport, and Lewis.cite web|author=NCDC|year=2003|title=Event Report for Northeast New York|accessdate=2007-01-31|url=http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~513202] Precipitation was generally light in the state, with a few scattered locations reporting over 1 inch (25 mm).cite web|author=David Roth|year=2005|title=Rainfall Summary for Hurricane Isabel|publisher=Hydrometeorological Prediction Center|accessdate=2007-01-31|url=http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/isabel2003.html] In Livingston County, the rainfall overflowed the reservoir, causing moderate flood damage.cite news|author=Carolyn Thompson|date=2003-09-19|title=Isabel windy but not as wet in New York|publisher=Associated Press|accessdate=2007-02-15] Initially, gasoline futures on the New York Stock Exchange rose in anticipation of a threat from the hurricane, though later dropped when the storm failed to disrupt oil refining facilities.Cite web|author=New York Times|year=2003|title=The Markets: Commodities|accessdate=2007-01-31|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E03E6DC103AF933A1575AC0A9659C8B63&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fSubjects%2fH%2fHurricanes%20and%20Tropical%20Storms] The hurricane brought unusual birds to the western portion of the state, including petrels and shearwaters normally found in salt-water regions or over the open ocean. Most of the birds died within a few days due to the sudden change in habitat.cite news|author=Buffalo News|date=2003-10-03|title=Isabel was kind to our region in more ways than one|accessdate=2007-02-15] In Cayuga County, downed power lines lit one building on fire, causing minor smoke and water damage though no injuries.cite web|author=John Stith|date=2003-09-20|title=Storm Severs Power to Thousands; Firefighters Battle Auburn Apartment Fire Caused By Electrical Problems|publisher=Syracuse Post-Standard|accessdate=2007-02-15|url=?] Damage in the state totaled $90 million (2003 USD, $105 million 2008 USD).

Rainfall reached 1 inch (25 mm) in portions of western Connecticut and Massachusetts. Strong surf from Isabel caused a man to drown after losing his footing along the beach near Narragansett, Rhode Island, and being swept out to sea.cite web|author=NCDC|year=2003|title=Event Report for Rhode Island|accessdate=2007-01-31|url=http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~519612] Officials in Connecticut contacted a water company in Watertown and a grocer in Cheshire for donations to assist the residents affected in North Carolina. A few days after Isabel moved ashore, the officials sent a tractor trailer truck with 2,000 gallons (7570 l) of water and 25,000 pounds (11,340 kg) of ice to North Carolina.cite web|author=Office of Governor Rell|year=2003|title=Connecticut Pitches In To Help North Carolina Hurricane Victims--2,000 Gallons of Water, 25,000 Pounds of Ice On Its Way South|accessdate=2007-01-31|url=http://www.ct.gov/governorrell/cwp/view.asp?A=11&Q=260210] In Vermont, the strong pressure gradient produced a peak wind gust of 55 mph (89 km/h) in Pleasant Valley, causing sporadic downed trees and power lines throughout the state.cite web|author=NCDC|year=2003|title=Event Report for Vermont|accessdate=2007-01-31|url=http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~520171] In Richmond, trees fell on and damaged three trucks,cite web|author=NCDC|year=2003|title=Event Report for Vermont (2)|accessdate=2007-01-31|url=http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~520170] and in Salisbury a falling tree damaged a car.cite web|author=NCDC|year=2003|title=Event Report for Vermont (3)|accessdate=2007-01-31|url=http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~520169] Damage in the state totaled about $100,000 (2003 USD, $117,000 in 2008 USD).cite web|author=NCDC|year=2003|title=Event Report for Vermont (4)|accessdate=2007-01-31|url=http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~520172] cite web|author=NCDC|year=2003|title=Event Report for Vermont (5)|accessdate=2007-01-31|url=http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~520167] cite web|author=NCDC|year=2003|title=Event Report for Vermont (6)|accessdate=2007-01-31|url=http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~520173] Rainfall reached 1 inch (25 mm) in various portions of New Hampshire and Maine.

ee also

*List of New England hurricanes
*List of retired Atlantic hurricane names

References