Hurricane Isaias Hits Gulf Coast With Flooding and Winds

Hurricane Isaias brought dangerous winds, flooding and storm impacts to Florida and Alabama after making landfall near Destin, Florida, as a Category 2 hurricane, causing two deaths and leaving hundreds of thousands without power, according to the Associated Press and officials.

The storm weakened into a posttropical cyclone by Saturday after moving inland through Alabama. The National Hurricane Center said Isaias had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph early Saturday and was expected to move toward the Tennessee Valley.

According to the National Hurricane Center, heavy rainfall of 4 to 8 inches was possible across southern Alabama, Florida’s Panhandle and the Big Bend region. Forecasters also warned of possible tornadoes in parts of Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas.

Authorities reported two storm-related deaths. In Escambia County, Florida, Sheriff Chip W. Simmons confirmed a woman died after a tree fell on a home, while Jefferson County Emergency Management reported a fatal incident in Birmingham, Alabama, involving a tree falling on a residence.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis urged residents to avoid dangerous conditions as flooding and debris affected communities along the Gulf Coast.

"The storm is already here. Buckle up right now. Do not go out on the roads," said Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida.

Roads in Destin were flooded, while police in Pensacola warned residents to avoid streets because of debris. Officials also reported downed trees and power lines in parts of Florida and Alabama.

Donald Trump addressed the storm while speaking with reporters after returning from an event in New York.

"We are watching the hurricane very closely," said Donald Trump, President of the United States.

Trump also described the situation while discussing federal attention to the storm.

"It is under control," said Donald Trump, President of the United States.

More than 915,000 customers in Florida, Alabama and Georgia were without electricity early Saturday, according to poweroutage.com. The previous report from the Associated Press cited more than 664,000 outages in Florida and Alabama earlier in the storm's progression.

Tim Mowry, who sheltered at his home in Pensacola, described intense winds, a power outage and property damage including standing water and a damaged fence.

"As far as Pensacola goes, we really got lucky," said Tim Mowry, Pensacola resident.

Mowry said his son could not reach his home after losing power because fallen trees and electrical lines blocked roads. Airports in the Florida Panhandle also suspended most scheduled flights during the storm.

The storm led some counties to suspend emergency responses temporarily because of hazardous conditions. Florida deployed about 5,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen to assist with response operations, according to the Associated Press.

Residents in the region used the closure of local restaurants as a sign of storm severity, with Kelsei Frazier describing how closures differed from normal hurricane experiences.

"We joke because if Waffle House stays open, then you know it is not a serious hurricane, but all the Waffle Houses I know within a normal radius of where we are are closed," said Kelsei Frazier, Florida resident.

Frazier referred to the "Waffle House Index" when discussing the informal measure used by some residents to judge storm conditions.