Hurricane Isabel struck North Carolina on the East Coast of the United States on September 18, 2003. Forming in early September in the tropical Atlantic Ocean, the storm had moved northwestward, with peak winds of 165 mph (265 km/h). Isabel made landfall on the Outer Banks with winds of 105 mph (165 km/h), then quickly weakened over land and became extratropical over western Pennsylvania the next day. It produced moderate to heavy damage across eastern North Carolina. Storm surge and strong winds in Dare County damaged thousands of houses and created a 2,000-foot (600 m) inlet on Hatteras Island (pictured), washing out parts of North Carolina Highway 12 and isolating the village of Hatteras for two months. Across the state, up to 700,000 residents were left without power. Three deaths in North Carolina were attributed to the storm, and statewide damage was estimated at $450 million.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_Hurricane_Isabel_in_North_Carolina

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1879:

The Blackpool Illuminations (example pictured) in the English seaside town of Blackpool were switched on for the first time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackpool_Illuminations

1918:

World War I: The Central Powers' defeat in the Battle of Dobro Pole played a role in the Bulgarian withdrawal from the war and opened the way for the subsequent liberation of Vardar Macedonia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Dobro_Pole

1974:

Hurricane Fifi struck Honduras, destroying 182 towns and villages in the first 24 hours, and ultimately causing over 8,000 deaths. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Fifi%E2%80%93Orlene

2001:

Five letters containing anthrax spores were mailed to various media outlets in the United States. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_anthrax_attacks

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

cybernat: (Britain, informal) A Scottish nationalist who takes part in Internet activism. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/cybernat

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Hope is itself a species of happiness, and, perhaps, the chief happiness which this world affords: but, like all other pleasures immoderately enjoyed, the excesses of hope must be expiated by pain; and expectations improperly indulged must end in disappointment. If it be asked, what is the improper expectation which it is dangerous to indulge, experience will quickly answer, that it is such expectation as is dictated not by reason, but by desire; expectation raised, not by the common occurrences of life, but by the wants of the expectant; an expectation that requires the common course of things to be changed, and the general rules of action to be broken.   --Samuel Johnson https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Samuel_Johnson