Millions of people remained without power today as Hurricane Isabel, which caused at least 24 deaths and potentially billions of dollars in damage, ebbed away from America‘s mid-Atlantic states.

HURRICANE ISABEL screamed ashore in North Carolina yesterday as furious winds and torrential rains forced evacuations throughout the US mid-Atlantic region, the cancellation of nearly 1,000 flights and shut down the federal government in Washington.

US President George W Bush today declared North Carolina a disaster area as Hurricane Isabel ploughed into coastal islands on the US eastern seaboard with 100 mph winds.

TRAFFIC streamed inland from the vulnerable Outer Banks of North Carolina yesterday as residents and visitors headed for higher ground ahead of the approaching Hurricane Isabel.

Residents up and down the US east coast boarded up windows and the military ordered ships and planes out of harm’s way as Hurricane Isabel headed toward land with 120mph winds.