 Hours after Isabel made landfall , President George W. Bush issued a major disaster declaration for 26 North Carolina counties , which allowed the use of federal personnel , equipment and lifesaving systems and the delivery of heavy @-@ duty generators , plastic sheeting , tents , cots , food , water , medical aid and other essential supplies and materials for sustaining human life . The declaration also allocated federal funds for the long @-@ term recovery of hurricane @-@ stricken residents and business owners , as well as providing federal funds for the state and local governments to pay 75 percent of the eligible cost for debris removal and emergency services related to the hurricane , including requested emergency work undertaken by the federal government . By four days after the emergency declaration , assistance checks were mailed and used by residents to pay for what was not covered by their insurance . 
