The National Hurricane Center warned of potentially life-threatening flooding in the District of Columbia, Baltimore and other points along the I-95 corridor.
WINDSOR, N. C. — Tropical Storm Isaias spawned tornadoes and dumped rain along the U. S. East Coast on Tuesday after making landfall as a hurricane in North Carolina, where it smashed boats together and caused floods and fires that displaced dozens of people. At least two people were killed when one of its twisters hit a mobile home park. More than 12 hours after coming ashore, Isaias was still sustaining top winds of 70 mph, near hurricane strength, Tuesday and its forward march accelerated to 35 mph. The National Hurricane Center warned of potentially life-threatening flooding in the District of Columbia, Baltimore and other points along the I-95 corridor. Two people died and about 20 were injured after a tornado “totally demolished” several mobile homes in Windsor, North Carolina, said Juan Vaughan II, county manager for Bertie County. Three people were unaccounted for, authorities said. “We’re still in active searches going on right now,” Vaughan said. “We really want to make sure everyone is found safe as soon as possible.” An aerial shot by WRAL-TV showed fields of debris where rescue workers in brightly colored shirts picked through splintered boards and other wreckage. Nearby, a vehicle was flipped onto its roof, its tires pointed up in the air. “It doesn’t look real; it looks like something on TV. Nothing is there,” Bertie County Sheriff John Holley told reporters, saying 10 mobile homes had been destroyed. “All my officers are down there at this time. Pretty much the entire trailer park is gone.” Isaias toggled between hurricane and tropical storm strength as it churned toward the East Coast. Fueled by warm ocean waters, the storm got a late burst of strength as a rejuvenated hurricane with top sustained winds of 85 mph (136 km/h) before coming ashore late Monday near Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina.
