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Hurricane Isaias made landfall in Florida’s western Panhandle on Friday evening, bringing the threat of life-threatening flooding and powerful winds that prompted evacuations, according to the BBC.
The storm had weakened slightly to a Category 2 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 kph). Florida, Alabama and Georgia declared states of emergency as forecasters warned that storm surge could cause flooding of up to 9 feet (2.7 metres) in some areas.
Mandatory evacuations were ordered in parts of Florida and Alabama. Florida Senator Rick Scott urged people in designated areas to leave, writing on social media: “Do not wait! Get out now!” Alabama Governor Kay Ivey ordered non-residents, tourists and visitors to evacuate key counties expected to be heavily affected.
The National Hurricane Center warned that Isaias could bring a “life-threatening storm surge” to the US Gulf Coast. The National Weather Service said the storm’s centre was forecast to move across Alabama and into the Tennessee Valley on Saturday and Sunday.
As of Friday evening, hurricane-force winds extended up to 35 miles (55 km) from the storm’s centre, while tropical-storm-force winds reached as far as 205 miles (335 km). Forecasters also warned of heavy rain and the possibility of tornadoes.
Melissa Watson, a Florida-based National Weather Service meteorologist, told the BBC that residents should have several ways to receive warnings about tornadoes and storm surges. People near the coast should be ready to move to higher ground, she said, and remain indoors rather than go out to survey damage.
Power outages had already affected hundreds of thousands of people in the southeastern United States. More than 350,000 customers in Florida and 170,000 in Alabama were without electricity, according to PowerOutage.us. About 8,000 customers in Georgia had also lost power.
Residents along parts of Florida’s Panhandle were told to seek immediate shelter under an “Extreme Wind Warning”. Some people nevertheless chose to stay in their homes. Navarre resident John Guoth told the BBC he and his wife had secured items around their property and moved their ducks and chickens into a bathroom.
In Pensacola, Brandin Ruth said people were preparing for the storm by shutting off gas to buildings and helping staff get home. Residents had experienced severe storms before, he told the BBC, but were taking precautions and did not want to underestimate Isaias.
“Waffle House” had closed several locations in the hurricane’s path, a spokesperson for the restaurant chain told the BBC. The company said it would continue monitoring conditions.
US President Donald Trump cancelled plans to attend a college football game in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, because of the hurricane and instead planned to attend a rally in Tennessee.
Two other storm systems were also forecast to affect North America over the weekend. Hurricane Simon was moving toward Mexico’s Pacific coast, while Tropical Storm Rachel was heading toward the US-Mexico border region. In Newport Beach, California, streets were already flooded amid high tides and storm swells. The city advised people to avoid the Balboa Peninsula and not to drive through flooded streets.
