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Editor's Note: Link to emergency contact numbers including area power companies: http://www.wvec.com/weather/hurricane/survival/contacts.html

Date: Oct. 1
Time: 10:11 a.m.
Location: Buckroe Beach area, Hampton
Submitted by: John Pappas

I was able to print out the Hampton Roads Tide Chart from WVEC's weather page before the power went out. Believe it or not this chart became very important to some of the home owners who called me (our phones still worked). They were checking to see if the water was encroaching on my property because they were nervous as the water was getting closer and closer to them. Fortunately, the tide chart was a good tool to have, as it showed High tide around 3:08 pm and I was able to assure everyone that the water would soon recede and to hang in there.

Date: Sept. 29
Time: 7:23 a.m.
Location: York County
Submitted by: Kathleen Dooley

Our community is a much better place due to the efforts of a handful of great neighbors. We would like to thank Shaun Whitehead, Lee Kelley, Mike O'Conner and Neal Kelly for clearing some roads in Marlbank Farms in York County. If it was not for these guys, a very bad situation would have stayed that way. We just want these guys to know that their efforts and hard work were very appreciated.

Thank you guys,
C.J. & Marianne
Harvey & Billie Ann
Bob & Karen
Dave
Mark & Kathleen

2 trees hit this mobile home in Claremont.

Here is a photo of my mobile home in Claremont.

In the rear of the mobile home was mine and my sons beds. The room was destroyed as you can see but luckily we were not in the home as the next photo shows with tree number 2. It was in the living room. I do not live here but use this for a weekend getaway and a hunting "lodge." There are a lot of good memories that I have with my dad here as we built this together and shared many happy days before his passing.

Although the trees destroyed our mobile home Isabel cannot destroy memories it just created more. I know as most of us can say we will talk about this for years to come. I hate it was this destructive but can only Thank the Lord I did not have to leave my home as a lot did. Leaving here after surveying the damage I still felt more depressed for the people in Surry, Claremont, and surrounding areas as they struggled to get their lives back together. Thanks for letting me share my story.

Rainbow over Newport News on September 27, 2003

Thank you for your superb weather reporting before and through out hurricane Isabel.

We lost 7 trees on our property, but were very fortunate that they did not hit our house. Our house was not damaged by the incredible winds either.

We were without electricity for eight days. We played lots of charades and other games with our boys, thanks to flash lights and batteries! Life seemed very different for us and it was difficult to sleep at night with the windows
opened and hearing all the neighbors' very noisy generators.

Our electricity is back on. We have cleaned up the yard, piled the trees by the road for pick up, and even had time to play a little basketball with my son tonight. Attached is a photo of a rainbow that suddenly appeared in the sky tonight as we were playing basketball. Seeing the rainbow really gives me a sense of great comfort and hope for the future.

Thanks again for your wonderful weather reporting!

Date: Sept. 26
Time: 9:26 a.m.
Location: Norfolk
Submitted by: Bruce

Thanks to WVEC, the blog, divine intervention, scheduling, or someone out there, the troublesome tree was removed from our neighbors home and the power was restored to Heritage Point yesterday afternoon at/about 2:00 p.m. My blog entry of September 25 refers.

Now... Cox Cable if you are out there, the road is clear to restore your cable for all of your customers in Heritage Point.

Date: Sept. 25
Time: 4:48 p.m.
Location: San Diego, CA
Submitted by: Josy Martin

Thank you to Dan Gay of Virginia Beach and his wife for the update on Bells Island. We were mostly concerned about our Dear friends, the Catletts who will be our neighbors when we retire next year.

We were concerned about flooding conditions but not worried since we have not yet put our house on our lot. We were also worried about some of our trees causing damage to our neighbors or a damaged bulkhead. We have not been able to reach them.

Again, thank you sooo much Dan Gay.

Date: Sept. 25
Time: 12:16 p.m.
Location: Lawrence, Kansas
Submitted by: BJ & JD Willhite

Just an update on our daughter in Poquoson. We finally heard from her this morning-she sent us an email.

They suffered little damage because their home is on a rise, but many of their neighbors weren't so fortunate. She said they lost their food but that was a minor thing compared to what could have been. The phone is back on and we phoned immediately. Since she is eight months pregnant and has two toddlers we were more concerned in not hearing from them. We are blessed.

Just wanted to thank you for having this blog. It has kept us posted on what is going on there.

Here in Lawrence, Kansas there is no coverage of what is going on in the aftermath of Isabel. I think that is so wrong. I saw the same thing with Andrew a year after in Miami. People were still trying to recover. I suppose that will be the case in the hardest hit areas of the east coast.

I hope not.

Date: Sept. 25
Time: 10:26 a.m.
Location: Virginia Beach
Submitted by: Dan Gay

To Josy Martin from San Diego, CA:
This concerns your note about Bells Island, NC. Have a friend, Pat J., who lives
on the island. My wife called her after I read your note and she called the Sheriff. There were a number of trees down like everywhere else in the region with little major damages.

Best of all there were no serious injuries to the residents. The power was restored very quickly to everyone's delight. Pat's house received the most damage. She had three trees on her house. One had limb go through the roof, through the ceiling, and onto the bathroom floor.

She was not injured. Hope this provides you some comfort. Hope to visit your great city sometime in the near future.

Date: Sept. 25
Time: 10:21 a.m.
Location: Norfolk
Submitted by: Bruce

This is day 7 without power for all residents in Heritage Point, which is basically one street with several Culdesacs.

Heritage Point is on Nancy Drive which runs parallel to Azalea Garden Road located on Lake Whitehurst in Norfolk. The rumor mill has it that the reason we are still without power is because a City inspector told the home owners...[on] Nancy Drive that the TREE that fell on their house from the Street area and broke power lines had to be removed by Dominion power.

Days later Dominion told the homeowners that it was the City's responsibility to remove the tree. Then we heard that the City has scheduled removal of the tree sometime in OCTOBER!!! Another tree that fell from across the street that also took down the main power line that feeds Heritage Point was removed Monday, 22 September, That removal freed up that area for Dominion to restore the main power line to all homes in Heritage Point but that has not happened yet
because we are told that Dominion won't come in until the tree is removed from the house at Nancy Drive.

Those of us on Cox cable also do not have phone service either. Can anyone out there HELP resolve this issue and
get power restored to Heritage Point? Thank you.

Date: Sept. 25
Time: 9:50 a.m.
Location: Seaford, Virginia
Submitted by: Caterina Drake

I live in Seaford, VA, which is right on the Chesapeake Bay and other surrounding waterways. My home and most of my belongings were saved but many lost all that they have when the water rose as high as 4ft with 6ft surges in some instances. I am and continue to be amazed by the outpouring of kindness during this disaster. Neighbors chipping together to get trees from roadways; helping each other with showers; ice; food and a warm bed. There are many "good will" stories out there. Lest we not forget: Hurray to all of the power companies for helping!!! You guys/gals are wonderful. :)

My personal thanks goes to Mike and Mary W. (who didn't even have running water) for the thermos of coffee on day 2 of the power outage. A pile of gold wouldn't have made me happier!! I owe you BIG!!!

I've tried to pass on the kindness to others in return and I encourage others to do the same.

I have just a few disappointments as we all do, to name a couple: (1) Folks out there stealing from victims of the storm (2) Food Lion jacking their price of steaks up over $10. per pound. They know we are all grilling dinner. How dare they!!! Food Lion will "never" ever see my hard earned dollars again.

Thanks again to all who have helped me. Steven...you are an angel for taking in my family and sharing your home!!!!
My heartfelt concern goes out to all victims of this storm.

Date: Sept. 24
Time: 2:28 p.m.
Location: Hampton
Submitted by: Joann

To the people in Arizona who have property in Grandview. Sorry to say, you probably got hit pretty hard. This area is still closed off to the public, many houses destroyed and severe damage to others. The pier and bait shop are gone as is the beach. It's been 7 days and still no power. Latest word is two more wks until power is restored so that should tell you something. Sorry for your possible loss. But we will recover.

Date: Sept. 24
Time: 2:11 p.m.
Location: San Diego, CA
Submitted by: Josy Martin

I live in San Diego area, but we own property on Bells Island in NC; unable to reach our friends there.
Can anyone tell us how the people on the Island were affected by Isabel? Our prayers go to all affected.
Thank you.