Tree Kills Birmingham Resident as Isaias Hits Alabama

A person was killed and another rescued after a tree collapsed onto a home in east Birmingham, Alabama, early Saturday as weakened Isaias moved across the state. Birmingham firefighters and police responded to the Monterey Drive residence after two people were reported trapped inside.

According to al.com, crews arrived just after 5 a.m. at the home in the 1300 block of Monterey Drive near Edwards Lake Road. A large tree blocked visibility of the house, and a power line was also down on the property.

Firefighters rescued one resident who was treated at the scene and did not need hospitalization, Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service Chief Cory Moon said. The second victim was found dead in a bedroom, according to emergency officials.

Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency Director Jim Coker said the Monterey Drive incident was the only injury or fatality reported so far in the county, which experienced scattered storm damage.

National storm officials said Isaias continued weakening after making landfall near Destin, Florida, as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph. The storm later moved inland as a post-tropical cyclone while maintaining risks from heavy rain and gusty winds.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis described the storm conditions during a briefing, noting wind and water impacts along the Gulf Coast.

"There were wind gusts of up to 116 miles per hour near Santa Rosa Sound and over 100 miles an hour near Pensacola and Panama City Beach," said Ron DeSantis, Florida Governor.

DeSantis also addressed flooding concerns and said coastal water levels had risen during the storm.

"Water levels were approximately 5.5 feet higher than normal," said Ron DeSantis, Florida Governor.

The governor said the storm had weakened after leaving Florida and continued moving through the Southeast.

"Weakened into a post-tropical cyclone, and those sustained winds are now down to about 35 miles per hour," said Ron DeSantis, Florida Governor.

Authorities in Escambia County, Florida, also reported a separate storm-related death after a person was found trapped beneath a fallen tree inside a home. Fire Rescue crews responded after receiving a call about the incident.

"Fire Rescue was able to locate the victim who was pinned under a large tree," said the Escambia County Sheriff's Office.

Alabama officials warned residents to monitor changing weather conditions as Isaias continued north. Governor Kay Ivey highlighted possible tornadoes, strong winds and heavy rainfall.

"As we approach the weekend and any travel plans, make sure you have reliable information as conditions develop," said Kay Ivey, Alabama Governor.

Ivey also repeated emergency preparedness guidance during her warning about the storm's possible impacts.

"We often hear in emergency management: Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst," said Kay Ivey, Alabama Governor.

Officials tracked widespread outages as the storm crossed the region. More than 900,000 customers nationwide were reported without power, including hundreds of thousands in Florida and Alabama.

A separate storm-related incident occurred in Greenville, Alabama, where a tree fell onto a residence and a family was evacuated. Greenville officials said everyone inside the home was accounted for and relocated to a shelter.