Hurricane Isaias Batters US Southeast, Leaving Two Dead and 800,000 Without Power

Hurricane Isaias, the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season, has left a trail of destruction across the southeastern United States, resulting in two fatalities and cutting power to hundreds of thousands of customers.

Making landfall near Destin, Florida, on Friday evening as a Category 2 storm, Isaias brought sustained winds of 169km/h (105mph) alongside heavy rainfall and powerful gusts to the Florida Panhandle before weakening as it tracked inland overnight through Alabama.

Tragically, two people lost their lives due to falling trees during the severe weather. One fatality occurred in Birmingham, Alabama, when a tree crashed onto a residence, while the second was reported in Escambia County, Florida. However, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stated on Saturday that state officials had not yet officially confirmed any storm-related fatalities, including the incident in Escambia County.

By Saturday morning, the system had downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone with maximum wind speeds near 55km/h (35mph). At its peak, over 900,000 electricity customers across Florida, Alabama, and Georgia were plunged into darkness. According to PowerOutage.us, that figure has since decreased to under 800,000.

The severe weather caused widespread disruption, with fallen trees and downed power lines blocking roads. Flooding also forced road closures in areas of southern Alabama, such as Houston County. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey noted early Saturday that her administration remained on high alert for strong winds, heavy rain, and potential spinoff tornadoes.

In Pensacola, Florida, local officials reported that fierce winds damaged an airport facility and ripped the roof off a hotel, while blocked roads and power outages impacted residents throughout the city.

Although the storm has weakened, authorities caution that severe hazards remain. Heavy downpours continue to threaten flash floods across the region. Governor DeSantis emphasized that the flooding threat persists due to saturated ground and ongoing rain, noting that state search and rescue teams remain on standby for emergency deployments. Additionally, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier cautioned residents to watch out for predatory contractors attempting to take advantage of homeowners during the recovery process.