Hurricane Isaias made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast late Friday as a Category 2 storm near the resort community of Destin, bringing sustained winds of up to 165 kilometers per hour before weakening overnight. It was the first hurricane to hit the U.S. mainland since 2024 and the initial hurricane of a relatively quiet Atlantic season. The storm caused significant damage and prompted mandatory evacuations along the coast as it moved northward through the southeastern United States.

Officials confirmed at least four storm-related fatalities. Two deaths occurred when trees fell on homes—one in Escambia County, Florida, and another in Birmingham, Alabama. Additional fatalities included a man in Florida who died of carbon monoxide poisoning after running a generator inside his garage and a person in Alabama involved in a vehicle crash linked to a fallen tree. Authorities advised caution due to ongoing hazards such as downed power lines, standing water, and the dangers of improper generator use.

Isaias left widespread power outages across Florida, Alabama, and Georgia, with more than 440,000 customers reported without electricity. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis highlighted the continuing risks despite the storm’s weakening presence and emphasized safety precautions. Utility crews from across Florida and more than two dozen other states have been mobilized to restore power. The U.S. Department of Energy authorized the release of up to four million barrels of oil from the strategic petroleum reserve to mitigate potential disruptions in refining capacity within the Gulf Coast region.

Damage in the Florida Panhandle included roofs torn from buildings, a flattened boathouse in Destin, and facade destruction on high-rise structures in Panama City Beach. Several streets remained blocked initially, though many major coastal routes had reopened by Saturday. In Pensacola, the airport sustained some damage, and local residents faced challenges including shortages of water, cleaning supplies, and food preservation due to power loss. Emergency shelters and relief organizations were active in distributing aid.

As Isaias progressed northward, it posed increasing flood and tornado risks through the central Appalachians and Mid-Atlantic states. The National Hurricane Center warned of the possibility of up to 25 centimeters of rain in some areas, raising concerns for flash flooding and landslides, particularly in western North Carolina, where communities are still recovering from heavy rains caused by Hurricane Helene in 2024. Local responders managed multiple landslides and flooded roadways, with voluntary evacuations issued in some counties. Thankfully, no additional deaths were reported in these areas as of Sunday.

Further inland, residents in places like Burke and McDowell counties in North Carolina faced rising river levels and rescue operations for individuals caught in floodwaters. Tornado warnings were issued for parts of Virginia and North Carolina, while life-threatening surf and rip current conditions continued along the Gulf and southeastern Atlantic coasts.

Meanwhile, in the Pacific, Hurricane Simon intensified to a Category 4 storm as it neared Mexico’s central-western coast. Authorities there warned of heavy rains, strong winds up to 240 kilometers per hour, high waves, and the risk of flooding and landslides in low-lying regions. Tropical Storm Rachel was also expected to impact northern Mexico and Southern California with heavy rain and winds over the weekend.