/ Weather / Hurricane Center

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

Date: Sept. 21
Time: 12:59 a.m.
Location: Arizona
Submitted by: N. B. Meade

I live in Arizona, but own a house at l8 Lighthouse Drive, Grandview area, of Hampton, VA. To date, I've been unable to find any photos or descriptions of the damage (other than it has been condemned) about my house. Any info, photos, etc. will be appreciated. Thank you.

Date: Sept. 20
Time: 10:43 p.m.
Location: Virginia Beach
Submitted by: Tammy Thompson

Bay Colony, Linlear & Birdneck Pointe has many trees and power lines down. It will be several days before power is back up. The actual oceanfront looks great. Many businesses have not taken down the plywood on windows but power
is on in many places. Disaster teams are set up near the intersection of Atlantic and Laskin Road. Laskin Road, has spotty power coverage. Virginia Beach middle school looks ok. I couldn't see any water problems. Around the
pavilion area also looks like damage was small. Linkhorne Bay condos have power. Independence Blvd looks good, power at most places (gas and fast food available). Lynnhaven is out of power as well as Holland Rd area.

Date: Sept. 20
Time: 9:41 p.m.
Location: Kempsville area in Virginia Beach
Submitted by: Anita Judd, Hampton Virginia/ Joe and Cindy DeYarmon; Alliance, Ohio

Saturday evening and the power to my home has been restored. I live in Hampton Club Condos and we got pretty beat up. A couple of my neighbors lost siding and have water damage, lots of attic damage as well.

I guess due to the hospital being close we may have been into the same grid. I had to go to Williamsburg today for gas. Seeing the historic colony in shambles was almost hard to believe.

My parents, who reside in Fox Hill, lost both trees in their yard, still out of power and the chimney collapsed onto the roof.

Off of Mercury in the vicinity of the K-mart some family friends lost everything with 12 inches of water in their home. My friends and I have helped for 2 days and still there is much to do. I went to Buckroe to check on friends there and was very saddened to see the fishing pier reduced to a couple of stakes out of the water. The parking lot by the Golden Sands motel is still filled with water and the circle isn't visible due to all of the sand. Mallory street was devastated. I saw one man standing in his yard and behind him a tree approx 3 ft wide, and looked to be 20 ft around laid on top of his house. I slowed to ask if his family was ok, but he seemed dazed and I changed my mind. A little further the church steeple was broken but not completely fallen. A few more houses down another very large tree on an old sturdy Victorian style house. The owner posed with a smile for a quick pic.

We went into Phoebus and more trees everywhere. Sams by the Sea had some damage as well as Keith's dockside. The sidewalk pavement was crumbled and the Mercury Blvd bridge to Ft Monroe was cracked and still closed. I went across to Willoughby to check on another friend and everyone was pumping water from their homes. All of this [was] against a sunset backdrop of purples and pinks.

On the drive home around 8:00 pm, we saw a caravan of approx 30 Va Power trucks and they where getting a "horn blowing" salute!

On the day of the storm I held up in my house, watching the sliding glass doors bow in and out wondering if they where going to make it, but after seeing things yesterday and today I feel a little guilty that the worst for me was no power and noisy neighbors. I have lived here all of my life and have never seen anything as devastating as Isabel. My friends that where with me just moved back here from Ohio and endured their first hurricane. [They agreed] if it is stronger next time we will be out. I pray for each and every person affected and look forward to seeing the clean beautiful city by the bay once again.

Date: Sept. 20
Time: 5:34 p.m.
Location: Kempsville area in Virginia Beach
Submitted by: Nikki

We live in the Kempsville area and lost our power early on Thursday morning. I had stocked up on lots of water, ice, cheese, and crackers, and had cooked a turkey so that we could eat turkey sandwiches kept cold in the cooler. My kids and I played board games like Clue, and Life on our dining room table where there was plenty of light. As the winds got stronger and turned more easterly, it got a little scary, so we went to another part of the house with only a very protected window in the corner of the room. We got out flashlights and read books until the worst of the storm was over. We were blessed with no major damage, but many trees in our neighborhood went down.

With many stop lights dark because of power loss, police all around Hampton Roads directed traffic.

Here is a picture of the aftermath of Isabel. One of Virginia Beach's finest directing traffic at Rosemont and South Plaza! They all deserve a BIG thank you for keeping us safe on the roads right now!!

Date: Sept. 20
Time: 7:01 a.m.
Location: Willoughby, 8th View
Submitted by: Marylin Copeland

We have a 10 foot by 20 foot hole in our yard where our sea wall breached and sucked out the ground in our 8th View Willoughby condo. The condo's foundation was undermined by the storm but thanks to some strong footings we had put in this year, the building held. We have a structural engineer from the Taft Group who will come out and look at how to repair the foundation and seawall. If it hadn't been for him and our contractor, Ocean East Construction, we would have lost part of the building. I would highly recommend that if others think they might have similar problems they get expert advice!!!!!. We, by the way, found pilings from Harrison's fishing pier nearby and think that is what battered the seawall and caused the breech. We have part of Harrison's pier in our yard now. The rest is all over Willoughby and out to sea.

Date: Sept. 19
Time: 11:30 p.m.
Location: Red Wing Golf Course, Va. Beach
Submitted by: Kevin Wilson

I don't have a photo right now, I took a photo of a place where I work at, Red Wing Lake Golf Course. When I arrived, I was shocked seeing all the trees were down. I felt that the tornado was here during the hurricane, seeing all the big trees down from a hurricane. Once I get the photo of the disaster, I'll have it in our blog ASAP.

The LeClaire family works on clearing a fallen tree from their roof.

Date: Sept. 19
Time: 10:59 p.m.
Location: Chesapeake
Submitted by: Kim LeClaire

From the LeClaire family (Michael and Kim LeClaire and their children Kyle, David, Christine and little Joshua). Wow, what a rush Izzy was! As Izzy approched the kids and I (Kim) decided to seek shelter at Great Bridge High School along with my parents and their next door neighbor. The Red Cross is awsome, and did a terrific job with the shelter under the circumstances. The families at the shelter were wonderful and we all became like a family, supporting one another as cell phone calls came in with news (some good but mostly bad) from those who stayed behind.

My huband informed me that a tree fell on our house on Bisham Court (in the Ethridge section of Chesapeake) and caused alot of damage. I was shocked when I got home and saw how much damage! A tree broke right through our
roof, and even through parts of our bedroom ceiling. As of 8:30 Friday night we have not seen or heard from the insurance adjuster yet.

Fortunately my husband, thanks to the help of wonderful neighbors, was able to get most of the tree cut away, but the stump is too heavy to remove without a crane, and we still have a gapping hole through the roof.

Izzy may have been powerful, she dosen't compare to the power of God's mercy (my family is safe, that's what really counts); and power of love and friendship that has been displayed those surrounding us in this terrific
community.

Date: Sept. 19
Time: 7:47 p.m.
Location: Cobblestone Trace in Virginia Beach
Submitted by: Maureen and Jerry Burney

We live in Cobblestone Trace in Virginia Beach, which is zipcode 23464. We did not loose power throughout the whole storm, and were able to watch WVEC the whole day, and night!

None of the condominiums in our complex have been damaged severely some, including our own have lost some roofing shingles andsome vinyl siding. No trees were down, which was our biggest fear. I truly feel for all who have suffered more than their share of damage from Isabel.

I am Scottish born and raised, and have never experienced hurricanes until coming to the States in 1991.

Thank you sincerely to Jeff Lawson and everyone in the Weather Lab, your coverage of the storm was excellent, Jeff Lawson and his team are the most trusted of all Weather Men in Hampton Roads.

Date: Sept. 19
Time: 4:39 p.m.
Location: Portsmouth
Submitted by: Jennie & Steve Ricketts

From:Jennie & Steve Ricketts (&Casey, Chad & Katie too!) We took these shots of the aftermath of Isabel in Portsmouth Virginia. It was amazing to see just how powerful the storm really was and how much damage it had caused. Fortunately, our family was kept safe, our water & power are still on (I think we are the ONLY ones that still have power though) and our property was not seriously damaged. It was a scarry experience and we want to thank God for bringing us through it safely.

We also want to thank JEFF LAWSON for his dedication to his community. Whenever we heard his voice on the radio, we knew what was coming for us and we knew what was happening all around us. He gave us a sense of safety and security. He may never realize just how much he is respected, trusted and honored. His accurate forcasts and his reassurance in the strength of our community has made a deep impact on our family.

Thanks Jeff! ~The Ricketts Family

Portsmouth home damaged by tree.

Date: Sept. 19
Time: 10:40 a.m.
Location: Green Run area
Submitted by: Tina Kempf

From the Green Run area on Northwood Ct., Chimney torn from the house and siding ripped off along with many roofs damaged.

A chimney lays in a Green Run yard.

Date: Sept. 19
Time: 9 a.m.
Location: Williamsbufg Bluffs, Yorktown, Va.
Submitted by: John Pabst

Pictures taken 19 Sep approx 0900 Location Williamsburg Bluffs Yorktown Va.

The morning after--a tree uprooted by Isabel.

Date: Sept. 19
Time: 5:54 a.m.
Location: Iraq
Submitted by: Chris Haynes

No photos or stories here. I am a Warrant Officer in the Army currently fighting in Iraq. As a Hamptonian I was amazed at the coverage of the storm on your web site. I was able to instantly access up to date information and see how the storm would impact my family and friends. All who work your website should be very proud. Thanks for the great coverage.

Hi Mom

WO1 Chris Haynes 608th Ord Co Anaconda ASP, Iraq

"One Team"

Date: Sept. 18
Time: 6:53 p.m.
Location: Philadelphia, Pa.
Submitted by: Betsy L. Smith

I'm in Philadelphia but also own a home in Poquoson. I am very concerned. Although it is in the upper end of Poquoson and has never flooded things have changed since the last big hurricane. There has been lots of development around me plus VDOT widened the road and "engineered" some flood control initiatives. Every since the VDOT work we have flooding in our area every time it rains. I don't know how we are going to make out in this hurricane with these changes to the topology of the marshland. I would be interested in anything anyone can tell me as the phones are out and the electricity is out.

My cousins who live in a low area moved to my house early this morning but nobody has heard from them since around 2:30 this afternoon.

At around 4:30 another cousin that lives nearby told me via cell phone that a tree had hit his house and knocked off his porch but he had no holes or leaks. He is worried another tree might come down. He sounded scared and worried. He told me that I had lost a pine tree in the front yard. No big deal! I have lots of pine trees. He also said tide was coming in the yard but he didn't know if it had reached the house as he couldn't go out. He promised to call back once the tide settled but I have not heard from him.

A friend who is a long time resident told me it is the worst he has ever seen. There is tide in places there hasn't been since Hazel. That was at 11AM.

Please, if anyone has news from Poquoson, especially from the 600 block of Poquoson Avenue please post.

Date: Sept. 18
Time: 6:56 p.m.
Location: Virginia Beach, Va.
Submitted by: KB

The Ocean Lakes section of Virginia Beach has been battered. There are numerous trees down along Culver Lane as well as Culver and Wellsford Rd. Power has been out for 7 hours now. We are taking a beating and fences and trees just can't stand up to the force of wind. Almost everyone along Culver Lane from General Booth to Elson Green have fences down, siding blown off and trees either broken in half or uprooted. Is this over yet?