Hurricane Isabel - September 18, 2003

110 Portside Lane, River Bend NC

Isabel winds began increasing during the morning of September 18. The wind came in gusts. At times there was complete calm. The eye hit land in the vicinity of Cape Lookout around 2 PM and tracked NW up through Pamlico and Beaufort counties. The closest the eye ever came to New Bern was about 20 miles east. The NE wind caused water to back up the Neuse and Trent rivers and flood. We were lucky because Plantation Canal only rose about 30" over our bulkhead making it about 4-1/2' above MSL which didn't even cause much flood damage in the lower Channel Run area. Hurricane Bertha flooding, for example, was closer to 10' above MSL. Winds reportedly only reached about 80 mph here. Power went out at 11:15 AM but surprisingly was restored about 9:40 PM after Isabel departed. Our phone and ISP Always-Online never went out. We were lucky.

By the way, our house was constructed on land built-up above the flood level. We have never had a problem with flooding. We operate a freezer, two refrigerators and all lights using a generator during emergencies.

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Town Park -high ground for residents' cars and boats Plantation canal overflowing to Portside Lane via vacant lot next door Looking down our driveway to Portside Lane when water was at peak level. See boat in canal behind house  across street Our backyard when water reached peak level. Bench with roof is on our dock. Flashing  is to keep squirrels out of pecan tree. I marked water levels on flashing expecting it to be higher.

Dave Wallace 9/20/03