 19 major airports along the East Coast of the United States were closed , with more than 1 @,@ 500 flights canceled . The Washington Metro and Metrobus system closed prior to the arrival of the storm , and Amtrak canceled nearly all trains south of the nation 's capital . Schools and businesses throughout its path closed prior to Isabel 's arrival to allow time to prepare ; hardware and home improvement stores reported brisk business of plywood , flashlights , batteries , and portable generators , as residents prepared for the storm 's potential impact . The federal government was closed excluding emergency staff members . The United States Navy ordered the removal of 40 ships and submarines and dozens of aircraft from naval sites near Norfolk , Virginia . 
