 Hurricane Isabel produced hurricane @-@ force wind gusts throughout eastern North Carolina . The winds downed hundreds of trees , leaving up to 700 @,@ 000 without power across the state . Damage from the hurricane totaled about $ 450 million ( 2003 USD , ( $ 579 million 2016 USD ) ) . Three people were killed in the state , a utility worker attempting to restore electricity and two by falling trees . 
