Four Dead and Hundreds of Thousands Without Power as Hurricane Isaias Batters US South
Hurricane Isaias has left four people dead and hundreds of thousands without power after lashing parts of the southern United States with heavy rain and strong winds. The storm made landfall in Florida on late Friday carrying maximum sustained winds of 105 miles per hour before being downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone. Officials across Alabama, Florida, and Georgia declared states of emergency, while forecasts indicate the storm will continue weakening as it moves toward the north-east.
Key points
- Four deaths were reported across Alabama and Florida following the storm.
- At least 600,000 people were without power across several states as of Saturday afternoon.
- Isaias made landfall in Florida on late Friday with maximum sustained winds of 105 miles per hour before being downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone.
- States of emergency were declared in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, alongside mandatory evacuation orders in parts of Florida and Alabama.
What happened
Hurricane Isaias battered parts of the southern United States with powerful winds and heavy rain, leaving four people dead and hundreds of thousands without power. Officials reported two deaths each in Alabama and Florida, including fatalities caused by falling trees.
The storm made landfall in Florida on late Friday carrying maximum sustained winds of 105 miles per hour before weakening into a post-tropical cyclone. Ahead of the storm, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia declared states of emergency, while mandatory evacuation orders were issued to thousands of residents.
Latest update
As of Saturday afternoon, poweroutage.us reported that at least 600,000 people were without power across several states. In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis warned that flooding remained a continued risk and described the conditions as a very hazardous situation, noting that officials had to rescue people from vehicles submerged in floodwaters.
In neighbouring Alabama, Governor Kay Ivey reported two deaths and noted official concerns regarding spinoff tornadoes driven by strong winds and heavy rain. Meanwhile, officials in Charleston, South Carolina, urged residents to stay home on Saturday night as high tides threatened significant flooding.
What we know
Confirmed reports detail specific casualties and incidents resulting from the storm. In Florida's Escambia County, Sheriff Chip Simmons reported that a woman died after a tree fell on her home. Another man in Florida died from carbon monoxide poisoning after running a generator in an improperly ventilated garage, which also led to four other individuals being hospitalized.
