Effects of Hurricane Isabel in Pennsylvania

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Hurricane Isabel
Tropical Storm Isabel over Pennsylvania shortly before becoming an extratropical cyclone
Tropical storm
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds40 mph (65 km/h)
Lowest pressure997 mbar (hPa); 29.44 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities2 indirect
Damage$160 million (2003 USD)
Areas affectedPennsylvania
Part of the 2003 Atlantic hurricane season
Part of a series on Hurricane Isabel
Effects

Other wikis

The effects of Hurricane Isabel in Pennsylvania were primarily related to tropical storm force winds across much of the state.

landfall on the Outer Banks of North Carolina with winds of 105 mph (169 km/h) on September 18. It quickly weakened over land and became extratropical over western Pennsylvania
the next day.

On September 19, Tropical Storm Isabel passed through southwestern Pennsylvania, though its large circulation produced tropical storm force winds throughout much of the state.[1] The passage of Hurricane Isabel resulted in $160 million in damage (2003 USD, $187 million 2008 USD) and two indirect deaths in Pennsylvania.[1] One person suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning, believed to be caused due to improperly ventilated generators in an area affected by the power outages.[2] Moderate winds left about 1.4 million customers without power across the state as a result of trees falling into power lines, with dozens of houses and cars damaged by the trees.

Preparations

While over the western Atlantic Ocean as a major hurricane, forecasters predicted Isabel would pass through the central portion of the state.

Philadelphia, Allentown, and Harrisburg to reschedule to a later date. American Airlines offered a similar option. United Airlines and United Express opted to waive charging fees for travelers in and out of the state.[6]

Prior to the arrival of Isabel,

Detroit Edison.[9]

Impact

Upon making landfall, Isabel produced a

Pennsylvania Power and Light customers losing electricity.[11]

Rainfall totals from Hurricane Isabel

Wind gusts reached 60 mph (97 km/h) in northeastern Pennsylvania, resulting in scattered reports of downed trees and power lines. Tens of thousands were left without power. A few downed trees hit cars and houses, with damage totaling about $350,000 (2003 USD, $410,000 in 2008 USD). The fallen trees also closed some roads.[13] In the central portion of the state, the storm dropped moderate precipitation of over 3 inches (76 mm), while wind gusts reached 73 mph (117 km/h) at a station in Lancaster County. The combination of the wind gusts and moist grounds from previous rainfalls resulted in hundreds of downed tree limbs,[14] primarily in Dauphin and Lancaster Counties.[15] Lancaster County reportedly suffered the worst wind damage since Hurricane Hazel in 1954.[16]

The falling trees downed power lines and poles, causing power outages and some property damage due to the trees and poles hitting houses. One indirect fatality occurred when a motorist drove into a downed tree.[14] Two other vehicles in Franklin County and a fire truck in York were hit and greatly damaged by trees. Downed wires set a Family Dollar on fire in Paradise Township and was believed to have started a fire in a church in Ringtown. Falling trees hit at least eleven houses, with one tree severely damaging a mobile home in Bellwood. Damage directly from the wind was generally minor, and included a house losing a chimney in Camp Hill, a carport being blown over in New Oxford, and at least four houses reporting roof or siding damage. The hurricane also damaged corn fields near Lancaster. Downed trees closed or disrupted traffic on at least 56 roads in the region, including U.S. Routes 6 and 322, as well as Interstate 83 in York County.[15]

Pittsburgh reported 1.24 inches (31 mm) of precipitation from Isabel.[17] The storm produced wind gusts of up to 60 mph (97 km/h) across the southwestern portion of the state, knocking down trees and power lines.[18] Allegheny Energy reported 31,184 customers in the southwest portion of the state lost power, primarily in McConnellsburg, State College, and Waynesboro.[19] Damage in southeastern Pennsylvania totaled $32.2 million (2003 USD; $37.7 million 2008 USD).[11]

Aftermath

Power workers immediately began repairing the power failures by clearing tree branches and replacing fuses and circuit breakers. Peco energy restored power to 72% of the affected customers by two days after the storm,[19] with 85% restored by two nights.[20] By two days after the storm, Pennsylvania Power and Light restored power to about 80% of its impacted customers,[19] with about 93% restored by two nights after the storm.[20] By five days after Isabel, most power outages in southeastern Pennsylvania were repaired,[21] with all outages restored by a week after the hurricane.[22] Allegheny Power restored power to about 20% of its customers by two days after the storm.[19] Most power outages for the company were restored by five days after the hurricane,[21] with all power completely restored by a week after Isabel.[22]

On September 26, President Bush declared Chester County as a disaster area following the damage of previous Henri, Isabel, and severe flooding unrelated to either tropical cyclone.[23] Officials opened a disaster recovery center in West Chester to provide additional information to disaster victims.[24] By a month after the declaration, 342 homeowners and business owners applied for disaster aid, totaling to around $600,000 (2003 USD, $703,000 2008 USD).[25]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Jack Beven; Hugh Cobb (2003). "Hurricane Isabel Tropical Cyclone Report". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2006-12-26.
  2. ^ CNN (2003-09-22). "Isabel death toll creeps higher". Retrieved 2007-01-27. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  3. ^ Franklin/Pasch (2003). "Hurricane Isabel Discussion Thirty-Nine". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2007-01-27.
  4. ^ National Hurricane Center (2003). "Hurricane Isabel Tropical Discussions". Retrieved 2007-01-27.
  5. ^ Post, Buckley, Schuh and Jernigan (2005). "Hurricane Isabel Assessment, a Review of Hurricane Evacuation Study Products and Other Aspects of the National Hurricane Mitigation and Preparedness Program (NHMPP) in the Context of the Hurricane Isabel Response" (PDF). NOAA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-05. Retrieved 2007-01-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Patty Davis; Beth Lewandowski (2003-09-17). "Airlines allow passengers to rebook". CNN. Retrieved 2007-01-27.
  7. ^ CNN (2003-09-18). "Isabel knocks out power to more than 1 million". Retrieved 2007-01-27. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  8. ^ Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (2003). "Governor Rendell Directs State Officials to Prepare for Hurricane Isabel". Archived from the original on September 29, 2006. Retrieved 2007-01-28.
  9. ^ Transmission and Distribution World (2003). "Eastern U.S. Utilities Prepare for Hurricane Isabel". Retrieved 2007-01-29.
  10. ^ Gorse and Frugis (2003). "Hurricane Isabel Post Tropical Cyclone Report". Mount Holly, New Jersey National Weather Service. Retrieved 2007-01-27.
  11. ^ a b c National Climatic Data Center (2003). "Event Report for Southeast Pennsylvania". Archived from the original on 2011-05-19. Retrieved 2007-01-27.
  12. ^ Patty Davis; Beth Lewandowski (2003-09-18). "Isabel snarls air traffic in the East". CNN. Retrieved 2007-01-27.
  13. ^ National Climatic Data Center (2003). "Event Report for Northeast Pennsylvania". Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  14. ^ a b National Climatic Data Center (2003). "Event Report for Central Pennsylvania". Archived from the original on 2008-01-27. Retrieved 2007-01-29.
  15. ^ a b State College, Pennsylvania National Weather Service (2003). "Hurricane Isabel: September 2003". Retrieved 2007-01-29.
  16. ISBN 978-0-9786280-0-0
    .
  17. ^ Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania National Weather Service (2007). "Remnants of Hurricanes and Tropical Storms that have brought Rainfall to the Region". Retrieved 2007-01-27.
  18. ^ National Climatic Data Center (2003). "Event Report for Southwest Pennsylvania". Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  19. ^ a b c d Infrastructure Security; Energy Restoration (2003). "Hurricane Isabel Situation Report: September 20, 2003 11:00AM" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 2, 2013. Retrieved 2007-01-29.
  20. ^ a b Infrastructure Security; Energy Restoration (2003). "Hurricane Isabel Situation Report: September 21, 2003 12:00PM" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 2, 2013. Retrieved 2007-01-29.
  21. ^ a b Infrastructure Security; Energy Restoration (2003). "Hurricane Isabel Situation Report: September 23, 2003 12:00PM" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 2, 2013. Retrieved 2007-01-29.
  22. ^ a b Infrastructure Security; Energy Restoration (2003). "Hurricane Isabel Situation Report: September 25, 2003 9:00AM" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 2, 2013. Retrieved 2007-01-29.
  23. ^ FEMA (2003). "Federal Disaster Aid Ordered For Pennsylvania Storms". Archived from the original on 2006-10-05. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  24. ^ PEMA (2003). "Disaster Recover Center to Open in West Chester". Archived from the original on September 29, 2006. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  25. ^ FEMA (2003). "Disaster Aid Surpasses Half Million Dollars". Archived from the original on 2006-10-03. Retrieved 2007-01-30.

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