 The storm surge assailed much of southeastern Virginia causing the worst flooding seen in the area since the 1933 Chesapeake – Potomac hurricane , peaking at an estimated 9 feet ( 2 @.@ 7 m ) in Richmond along the James River . The surge caused significant damage to homes along river ways , especially along the middle reaches of the James River basin . The strong storm surge surpassed the floodgate to the Midtown Tunnel while workers attempted to close the gate ; about 44 million US gallons ( 170 @,@ 000 m3 ) of water flooded the tunnel entirely in just 40 minutes , with the workers barely able to escape . The damage to the electrical grid and flooding kept Old Dominion University , Norfolk State University , Virginia Commonwealth University and many of the region 's other major educational institutions closed for almost a week . Further inland , heavy rainfall was reported , peaking at 20 @.@ 2 inches ( 513 mm ) in Sherando , Virginia , causing damage and severe flash flooding . Winds from the hurricane destroyed over 1 @,@ 000 houses and damaged 9 @,@ 000 more ; damage in the state totaled about $ 1 @.@ 85 billion ( 2003 USD , $ 2 @.@ 38 billion 2016 USD ) , among the costliest tropical cyclones in Virginia history . The passage of Isabel also resulted in 32 deaths in the state , 10 directly from the storm 's effects and 22 indirectly related . 
