Photo Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Hurricane Isabel formed on 6 September 2003 in the Atlantic Ocean. For the next couple weeks the North Carolina coast watched nervously as this massive storm lumbered towards the state. Isabel reached category 5 twice, and maintained category 4 status for several days between September 9 - 15. Further inland, emergency service organizations were making preparations as well, anticipating high winds and heavy rains in already-saturated areas.

Chief Haraway worked together with department staff, town officials, and other emergency agencies to make sure emergency plans were up-to-date, equipment was in working order and supplies were on hand. Although the forecast was for the hurricane to make landfall at the outer banks, the slightest change in course could have brought her 100+ mph winds further inland, so we were prepared for the worst.

Thankfully, we were spared a replay of Hurricane Fran. Isabel made landfall mid-day on Thursday, 18 September 2003 as a category 2 storm, packing a whollop to our outer banks and slicing Hatteras Island in two. Maximum sustained winds were about 85 knots, or about 102 mph at Ocracoke Island.

In Apex, volunteer and paid personnel mobilized to fully staff all three stations throughout the day. The Emergency Operations Center, command-base for the various emergency agencies operating in the county, came on-line at Station 3 around noon. The Firebelles came through with hot meals for all of the personnel who responded. When all was said and done, we ran about 30 calls, most of them in the couple-hour timeframe when the worst of the storm rolled through town. The majority of calls were for trees blocking roadways and transformer fires.

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