Hurricane Isaias Batters Florida Panhandle

Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin, Florida, on Friday night as a Category 2 storm with 105 mph sustained winds, damaging homes, flooding coastal areas and leaving hundreds of thousands of customers without electricity. At least two people have died in storm-related incidents in Florida and Alabama.

Landfall and Storm Strength

The National Weather Service and NBC News reported that Isaias came ashore near Destin at about 8:30 p.m. Central Time—9:30 p.m. Eastern—with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph. It later weakened as it moved inland and was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone.

The storm’s strongest winds were reported before landfall, with gusts reaching about 117 mph near Oriole Beach and 102 mph near Pensacola. Isaias had earlier peaked as a Category 3 hurricane.

Damage and Flooding

Early reports described coastal flooding in Destin, damaged trees and street signs in Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa Island, and roof damage in the Pensacola area. Perdido Key also reported damaged fencing, scattered building materials and exterior damage to homes.

These are initial observations. The full extent of property, infrastructure and road damage will only be known after emergency crews complete detailed assessments.

Power Outages Across Three States

PowerOutage.us data reported by Reuters showed roughly 800,000 customers without electricity across Florida, Alabama and Georgia after landfall. The breakdown included more than 430,000 customers in Florida, over 280,000 in Alabama and about 100,000 in Georgia.

Other tracking snapshots later put the total above 850,000 customers. Outage figures change quickly as crews restore service and identify additional damage, so different reports may not match exactly.

Two Deaths Reported

Reuters reported that two people died after trees fell on homes—one in Escambia County, Florida, and one in Birmingham, Alabama. Officials warned that hazards remain after the storm, including floodwater, damaged structures, debris and downed power lines.

Recovery Under Way

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency across 27 counties before the storm. More than 16,000 utility and restoration personnel were mobilized ahead of landfall, while search-and-rescue teams were positioned to respond to flooding, medical emergencies and possible building collapses.

Residents are being urged to avoid unnecessary travel, stay clear of fallen power lines and exercise caution around damaged buildings. The final casualty, displacement and damage figures may change as assessments continue.

Source: fox13news