Hurricane Isaias makes landfall in Florida as Category 2 storm, leaves 6 lakh without power

People fill up gas containers at a gas station ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Isaias, in Navarre, Florida, US. (Reuters Photo)

Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin, Florida, on Friday as a Category 2 storm, bringing heavy rain, damaging winds and flooding to parts of the Florida Panhandle and Alabama. More than 664,000 customers in the two states were without power early Saturday as the storm weakened, the Associated Press (AP) reported. The first hurricane of the Atlantic season had maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (169 kph) when it struck the Gulf Coast, according to the National Hurricane Center. By early Saturday, Isaias had weakened below hurricane strength as its winds continued to lose intensity. “The storm is here. Buckle down at this point. Don't be getting out on the roads,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said at a news conference, warning that flash flooding would remain a hazard across the region.

Flooding, downed trees disrupt communities

The storm battered coastal communities known for their white-sand beaches and holiday homes. Roads were flooded in Destin, while police in nearby Pensacola urged residents to stay off the streets because of debris. Images and videos shared online showed fallen trees and power lines, while a video appeared to show a roof being torn off an inn in Pensacola, AP reported. Some counties in Florida's Panhandle temporarily suspended emergency response operations on Friday night because of dangerous conditions. Parts of southern Alabama were also affected, with officials in Mobile reporting fallen trees and power lines. Roads in Houston County in southeastern Alabama were closed because of hazardous conditions. Tim Mowry, a Pensacola resident who rode out the storm at home, said the wind sounded like a train whistle as it blew through a gap in his patio door. He lost power around 4.30 pm but managed to use a generator. Standing water covered his backyard, and parts of his fence were torn down. Despite the damage, Mowry said the storm had been less severe than he had anticipated. “As far as Pensacola-wise, we really got fortunate,” he said. He added that his son had tried to drive to his home after losing power but was forced to turn back because fallen trees and power lines blocked the roads.

Storm surge and heavy rain pose further risks

The National Hurricane Center warned that storm surges of 3 to 5 feet (0.91 to 1.52 metres) could affect areas stretching from Dauphin Island in Alabama to Florida's Aucilla River. Forecasters also warned of possible tornadoes across the Florida Panhandle and into southern Georgia, as dangerous weather conditions continued to threaten the region. President Donald Trump said the hurricane was “under control” while speaking to reporters at the White House late Friday night after returning from a rally in upstate New York. Isaias was expected to weaken further as it moved inland, although heavy rainfall could continue to continue to cause flooding across parts of the southeastern United States. Authorities urged residents to follow local safety advisories as the storm continued to move through the region.