Washington remains closed for second day
Massive power outages throughout region
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Water overflows the Tidal Basin in Washington around the Jefferson Memorial.
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CNN's Jan Hopkins reports on the high cost of disaster insurance.
A look at CNN's Jeff Flock reporting on Isabel's progression over Atlantic Beach, North Carolina.
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SPECIAL REPORT
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The nation's capital shut down for a second day Friday in the wake of Hurricane Isabel, which toppled trees, downed power lines and brought some flooding to the Washington area.
The city's transit system was operating on a limited basis, but federal offices and schools remain closed, and city officials were urging people to stay home so roads could be cleared.
The Potomac River overflowed its banks in some areas, and water flowed through some streets in the historic downtown district of nearby Alexandria, Virginia.
Traffic lights were out throughout the city. One of the region's major utilities, Pepco, reported "unprecedented damage" with more than two-thirds of the company's 720,000 customers without power. Restoration for all customers would take a "minimum of seven days," the company said in a written statement.
Emergency and utility officials reported 1.8 million customers without power in Virginia and 1.25 million customers without power in Maryland. Because the power outages affected pumping stations, customers in Northern Virginia were being urged to boil water for consumption and food preparation before using it.
Downtown Washington was quiet and there was little action on Capitol Hill. President Bush remained at Camp David, the presidential retreat in the Maryland mountains.
The city came to a virtual standstill Thursday morning in anticipation of Isabel.
Concerned with the safety of commuters, the city's transit system shut down its bus and rail service at 11 a.m. Thursday, citing the threat posed by high winds and heavy rains.
That move in part prompted the federal government to close its offices. Later it said offices would remain closed Friday.
The Office of Personnel Management estimated that for executive branch offices, the cost of the shutdown is between $63 million and $67 million a day. That does not include costs associated with federal court closings or the suspension of business on Capitol Hill.
