State and federal assistance to North Carolina following Hurricane Isabel neared the $168 million mark at the six-month anniversary of the most serious storm of the 2003 hurricane season.
Isabel was directly responsible for 16 deaths as she roared across eight states and the District of Columbia, one in North Carolina.
President Bush declared 47 counties a federal disaster area on September 18, clearing the way for families to get financial assistance for housing, personal losses and medical care and to help local agencies pay for restoration and repair of public property.
More than 54,000 residents registered for aid in recovering from losses suffered in the storm, the only hurricane to threaten the mainland that year. The applications of 32,131 were approved for direct assistance for housing and other needs.
