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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: Sept. 24
Time: 12:37 p.m.
Location: Portsmouth
Submitted by: Susan Ernst

I would like to say that this past Sunday my faith was restored since so many people are taking advantage of so many residents in great need. My neighbor who was given an estimate for a tree to be removed by a man from Georgia for $3800 and he gave similar estimates to others, the neighbor had the tree removed by a church group from South Carolina who called themslves the "Chainsaw Gang" they went around and did some more unselfish deeds for others and charged them nothing! It just goes to show their are some who still help.

The homeowner stands on this giant tree that fell in her yard during Hurricane Isabel.

It was approximately 5:00 p.m. on Thursday and my daughter and I were huddled together in the interior area of my house. We heard cracking noises around us and trees were falling every few minutes. At one point the house started to shake and the ground rumbled. My daughter asked "Mom, what's that." I said "I don't know." It felt like an earthquake; however as I looked out of the dining room window I saw this tree passing by the window. I said to my daughter "look at that."

We had no idea how big the root ball was until the next morning. Every since Friday morning I would say that we have had at least 250-300 people come to the house from everywhere taking pictures and video of this tree. The amazing thing other than the fact that it didn't hit any structure was that the roots were only one inch below the surface. It's an amazing site to see.

Date: Sept. 23
Time: 11:44 p.m.
Location: Kempsville section of Virginia Beach
Submitted by: Helen Dingwitz

We live in the Kempsville Section of Va Beach. We prepared by boarding up the windows, clearing the yard of current leaves and put away anything that could blow around and cause more damage. I shopped light over the weekend and got the usual survival foods and water.

We actually videotaped before, during and after the storm and actually got the video of the tree that fell on our house thanks to our neighbor who saw it was about to go. We now have a large tree covering half the length of our home
and a hole in our month old roof, our master bedroom is damaged from the rain that came in through the hole. My situation is I do have power, and imagine the surprise when I called Virginia Power to ask them to turn it off, we are living with a tree on the home, the power lines are wrapped and stretched in the tree and live!

There was a storm water drain pipe under the tree and it busted up and now there is about a four foot section missing out of it, so you can read between those lines. Tree, Livewires, Water!! Yikes, no wonder no one wants to touch this tree. The power company said it could be weeks before the power can be cut off. Meanwhile I have a plastic swimming pool on my soaked bed and we have drilled holes in the bedroom ceiling to help the water drain and minimize the falling of the ceiling.

I am sleeping with my 6 year old who doesn't sleep straight on her bed, I have her feet in my side, on top of me and sleeping has been difficult, my husband is on the couch and he isn't even in trouble for anything!! I work for an insurance company and have been taking claim after claim for other folks and I can sympathize with them, because I have my problems too.

I really think that there is always a silver lining behind every hurricane. I have actually met all my neighbors now and have had my home photographed by them all and others who have come through, I feel special! My parents and my husbands parents and family are all in the dark, however they don't want to stay here with a tree through the house, their homes were spared thank God. We will surely have an appreciation for the good things in life once we all get through this. Just think we will have these storm stories to tell our grandchildren later on and we have the video to show, years ago we didn't have that luxury. We have come a long way since the last major storm here in 1933, which was before my time, but certainly not for others who remember. Hurricane Isabel was definitely an eye opener, we should feel blessed we are still here to tell about it.

Date: Sept. 23
Time: 9:35 p.m.
Location: Astoria, Oregon
Submitted by: Laurie Watts

Currently living in Oregon - we have friends and own property in Hampton - Willow Oaks area. We have been unable to contact friends and have seen no information on conditions in the area of Booker Elementary. Everyone in Hampton Roads is in our thoughts and prayers.

Date: Sept. 23
Time: 9:16 a.m.
Location: Hampton
Submitted by: Al Jackson

There may be additional hazards during the cleanup process in this area. I witnessed a truck hauling debris through a residential area of Hampton that lost some of its load. A large tree trunk about 12 feet long and 3 feet in diameter was dump into a yard on Big Bethel road just beyond Mercury Blvd as the truck was taking a curve on that road. I was about 5-6 cars behind the truck when I noticed it fall. As I was making my way up to that point, the owner had just arrived at the front door to see what had happened. I guess that lady heard the sound of the tree trunk hitting ground and rushed to the door to see that surprise of additional debris in her yard. Luckily the tree trunk only landed on the ground. It would have been bad if that land on a vehicle or worse, a person. I would suggest that residents be aware of the cleanup and removal process and safeguard themselves and property against such hazards.

Date: Sept. 22
Time: 7:40 p.m.
Location: Snug Harbor, N.C.
Submitted by: Bill Carter

I have just returned from Snug Harbor, N.C. I was there to help my mom clean up after the storm. I had heard that the devastation was really horrible, but until I saw it for myself I would have never believed.

In the community of Snug Harbor, there may be three utility poles left standing. More that 50% of the home were damaged and I would say about 35% completely destroyed. I have some video from the area and will try and post some stills or maybe even some streaming video from the area if possible.

Isabel may have been a category 2 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, but in the heart and minds of many in Snug Harbor, it was definitely a 5.

Date: Sept. 22
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Poquoson
Submitted by: Charles Sotomayor

My wife and I live on the 100 block of Hunts Neck Road in Poquoson.

We watched the entire storm from the porch of our neighbor's house. As the water rose, we became a small island surrounded by water. The water on the streets had swells and white caps.

The days following are spent helping neighbors cleaning debris.

Phones are on, but we miss calls because we're outside. At darkness, we head indoors to rest up for the following day. No electricity, but plenty of sparks in our eyes to put our town back.

Neither rain, nor snow, nor... hurricane?

Hello! Here are two photos I took in the middle of the afternoon as Isabell was having fun in Norge! The mail must go through come wind, rain, or hurricane! The mail person only delivers to our area on Thursdays... and she opened many mailboxes in the storm. On Saturday, I talked to the regular postman and he said they were sorting mail by flashlight! This should somehow be covered as a possible story for your weather segment. Keep up the outstanding reporting... we enjoy your coverage!

Date: Sept. 22
Time: 1:40 p.m.
Location: Unknown
Submitted by: Laura Walker

I have family that lives in Poquoson also. The last I talked with them, all flooding is gone, still no power or phones. I know there was flooding on Church Street, Cedar Road and Ridge Road.

Date: Sept. 22
Time: 12:46 p.m.
Location: Lawrence, Kansas
Submitted by: BJ & JD Willhite

The last time we spoke with my husbands daughter was on Wednesday night before Isabel hit the coast. At that time they were planning on staying in their home in Poquoson on Westover Drive. Does anyone have information on that area?
Thank you so much for any help.

Date: Sept. 22
Time: 12:05 p.m.
Location: Virginia Beach
Submitted by: Dave Farley

First and most important to me is the fact I was able to hear news via radio from folks I normally hear on TV. Not being a listener to the radio for news and the like it was sure nice to hear Regina Mobley and the Channel 13 weather folks this past Friday night. About everyone now knows electricity is a friend.

Second is the sharing what I heard when I got to work at the Shipyard this morning. Ice and food and water was being given out in lots of locations in North Carolina and help was priority one. Hearing this made me feel ashamed of what my city of Va Beach did to help. No free any thing that people with out transportation could get and that was that. I saw one young lady with a toddler in a stroller standing with tears in her eyes and looking very lost when we were told no ice was available at D & M Saturday morning. I never heard of one single city official come out and say what the city had to offer in the way of help. Call 427-4242 and hear the city is doing the best it can, but they can't tell you how they could help a young mother get come ice or milk for her child. Lets remember this at election time.

Date: Sept. 22
Time: 12:03 a.m.
Location: Unknown
Submitted by: Leslie

This is a response to Betsy Smith in Pennsylvania, who was wondering about property in Poquoson. I haven't heard specifics about your block, but i saw a report on the news saying it was almost completely flooded and one of the hardest hit areas in Hampton Roads. I hope that helps.

Date: Sept. 21
Time: 11:14 p.m.
Location: Virginia Beach
Submitted by: Gerry Wright

We would like to say THANK YOU to the 2 gentleman who helped us with a falling tree during the storm. With the hurricane reaching it's peak we received a call from relatives saying their pine tree was falling onto their house. We live in the Pine Meadows section of VB. We flagged down these two gentleman and asked if their truck was 4 wheel drive and explained the situation. They were glad to help. With the help of neighbors we tied the tree to their truck and cut the tree down. The wind caught the tree as it was going and the driver quickly backed up dropping the tree across the driveway. With all the commotion we never got their names, but a big THANKS goes out to them.

Crews from Louisiana restore power in Yorktown.

We live in the Greenlands subdivision between Route 17 and Magruder Blvd. (Route 134). We received our power back 9/20/03 at 7:25 PM thanks to the hard work and dedication of a crew of linemen from New Orleans, Louisiana. I counted 10 trucks from New Orleans working a 1/2 mile stretch of Magruder Blvd., from the Tabb Library/Greenlands entrance to Victory Blvd. (Route 171). We certainly appreciate their dedication and hard work. Our hats off to Louisiana.