By Rachel Clarke BBC News Online in Washington

Some shops took precautions against expected strong winds

Emergency alerts were declared for the District of Columbia which contains the city, as well as the neighbouring states of Maryland and Virginia.

Yet there was still something of a morning rush-hour with roads quieter, but not empty.

The workers who did make it to their offices found fewer places to get their morning lattes, with coffee shops shut and anyone hoping to do a bit of shopping would also have been disappointed.

The atmosphere began to change in the late morning as those who wanted to leave the city rushed for the last trains and buses before services were suspended at 1100 as a safety precaution.

And then the streets did seem far emptier.

Entrances to subway stations were closed, traffic seemed to disappear and the city's broad avenues looked almost barren, devoid of their usual crowds and even litter bins, newspaper vending machines and other bits of street furniture which had been removed.

Cafes joined schools, stations and the government in closing

Some buildings in the city centre had laid down sandbags or taped their windows but there was little of the very obvious preparations of areas prone to flooding such as Arlington, just south of Washington, or of the communities on the coast where Isabel was due to strike.

As the first few drops of rain started to fall, it looked like Washingtonians were heeding the advice of officials, going and staying home, possibly with the extra supplies of food, water, torches, radios and batteries everyone has been advised to get.

For this city, the worst effects could come later when the centre of the hurricane comes closer, possibly knocking down power lines and dumping rain on areas already sodden from a wet summer.

Intrepid tourists

But those fears were absent outside the White House. President George W Bush had left the day before to get to his Camp David retreat before the storm hit but the crowds of tourists were still there.

James and Ann Middleton were happy to continue sightseeing but Washingtonians sought shelter In pictures

Among them were James and Ann Middleton from London, visiting the US to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary and with just one day planned in the nation's capital.

James had lived through the bombing of London's East End during the Blitz in World War II and the weather held no fears for either of them.

"There's no point being worried," Ann said.

"It's just a bit of wind," James added.