Hurricane Isaias Weakens After Killing Two, Leaving Hundreds Of Thousands Without Power

Hurricane Isaias weakened into a post-tropical cyclone Saturday after making landfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast, but not before the storm killed at least two people, damaged homes, and knocked out electricity for hundreds of thousands of people across the Southeast.

The storm made landfall near Destin, Florida, on Friday evening as a Category 2 hurricane, packing maximum sustained winds of 105 mph. It moved north through the Florida Panhandle and into Alabama, where its winds weakened sharply. By early Saturday, Isaias had maximum sustained winds of about 35 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

At least two people were killed when trees fell on their homes, one in Florida and another in Alabama, authorities said. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office in Florida reported that a woman died when a tree struck her home. In Jefferson County, Alabama, emergency management officials reported a second fatality after a tree fell on a house. Officials had not released further details about the victims.

The storm also caused widespread damage across the Florida Panhandle and southern Alabama. Strong winds toppled trees and power lines, damaged buildings, and left roads hazardous. In parts of Alabama, the interaction between Isaias and another storm system contributed to powerful gusts and significant wind damage, according to the National Weather Service.

Power outages remained widespread Saturday. Reports from utility outage trackers put the number of affected customers across Florida, Alabama, and Georgia at roughly 800,000 to more than 900,000, with totals fluctuating as crews assessed damage and worked to restore service. Florida accounted for the largest share of the reported outages, followed by Alabama and Georgia, per the BBC.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said recovery crews had begun working overnight, while utilities continued to assess damage and restore electricity where conditions allowed. The state had deployed resources to support response and recovery operations following the storm’s landfall.

Although Isaias has lost most of its strength, forecasters warned that heavy rainfall and flash flooding remained concerns as the system moved inland. The storm’s remnants brought rain across Alabama and parts of Georgia, with the potential for flooding extending farther into the Southeast and southern Appalachians.

By Saturday morning, the National Weather Service’s Mobile office said all watches and warnings associated with Isaias had been canceled in its coverage area and issued its final local statement for the storm. Watches and warnings are still in effect in Northeast Alabama, Southern Appalachia, and Northern Georgia. Officials continued to urge caution around storm debris and flooded roads as communities began assessing the damage.

Isaias was the first Atlantic hurricane of the 2026 season. While the storm rapidly weakened after making landfall, its deaths, damage, and widespread power outages will require an intense recovery effort across parts of Florida, Alabama, and Georgia.

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