[rmlew]

In the Northeast, the last truly devastating hurricane was back in 1938 and not many are still around that remember that one.
The Long Island Express of September 21, 1938? It caused around 600 deaths and caused massive flooding in Long Island and Rhode Island. According to local talk, homes from the North shore ended up in Providence.

If Isabel hits Long Island as a Catagory 4 or 5, the effects would be devastating. http://www2.sunysuffolk.edu/mandias/38hurricane/storm_surge_maps.html

A category 4 hurricane inundates the entire towns of: Amityville, Lindenhurst, Babylon, West Islip, East Islip, Bayshore, Gilgo Beach, Cedar Beach, Great South Beach, Fair Harbor, Cherry Grove, Cupsogue, Westhampton Beach, Watermill Beach, Wainscott Beach, Plum Island, Gardiner's Island, Orient, Shelter Island (except for a few high points), Greenport, North Haven, Amagansett Beach, Napeague Beach, Montauk, Woodmere, Valley Stream, Linbrook, Long Beach, Atlantic Beach, Freeport, Merrick, Wantagh, Lido Beach, Jones Beach, and Tobay Beach.

http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/Landsea/deadly/index.html

[Heatseeker]

Reading through that link of yours to the "Long Island Express", I saw it discussed the ability of strong storms to actually change the geography of a coastal area, by opening or closing inlets.

This is exactly what created "The Inlet", south of Dewey Beach DE. And if I remember correctly, The Inlet was created by a mere Nor'easter, not a strong hurricane.

Think what Isabel could do. Hope the map-makers are ready for some extra work. :)