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. He lost power around 4.30 pm but managed to use a generator. 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.
Because of debris, roads were flooded in Destin, while police in nearby Pensacola urged residents to stay off the streets. Because of dangerous conditions, some counties in Florida’s Panhandle temporarily suspended emergency response operations on Friday night. Because of hazardous conditions, roads in Houston County in southeastern Alabama were closed. Because fallen trees and power lines blocked the roads, he added that his son had tried to drive to his home after losing power but was forced to turn back.
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.
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. 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. 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.
The storm battered coastal communities known for their white-sand beaches and holiday homes. Parts of southern Alabama were also affected, with officials in Mobile reporting fallen trees and power lines. Standing water covered his backyard, and parts of his fence were torn down. Forecasters also warned of possible tornadoes across the Florida Panhandle and into southern Georgia, as dangerous weather conditions continued to threaten the region.
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.
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. 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.
Isaias was expected to weaken further as it moved inland, although heavy rainfall could 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. You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.