 Officials declared mandatory evacuations for 24 counties in North Carolina , Virginia , and Maryland , though in general not many left . According to a survey conducted by the United States Department of Commerce , evacuation rates were estimated as follows ; 45 % in the Outer Banks , 23 % in the area around the Pamlico Sound , 23 % in Virginia , and about 15 % in Maryland . The threat of Isabel resulted in the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of residents , primarily in North Carolina and Virginia , and included more than 12 @,@ 000 residents staying in emergency shelters . 
