Hurricane Isaias is moving toward Florida’s Gulf Coast, and Pensacola Beach is already feeling it. Lifeguards pulled their stands off the sand Thursday morning and raised double red flags, which means the water is closed to swimming. Visitors described big waves and that eerie calm-before-the-storm feeling, but water safety officials say the real danger isn’t the spectacle. It’s rip currents, which account for more storm-related deaths than wind or flooding. Even after Isaias moves through, the wave energy will stick around, so the risk doesn’t disappear when the skies clear.
Travel is already being disrupted. Pensacola International Airport is set to close at 10 a.m. Friday, and some vacationers are flying out early while others plan to move inland and wait it out. If you have travel plans anywhere along the Gulf this weekend, check with your airline before you head out. Locals and visitors alike are urging everyone to take the storm seriously and follow official guidance. One longtime resident put it best: if the locals are taking it seriously, you should too.
For those of us here on the Suncoast, this is a good reminder to review your own hurricane plan. Know your evacuation zone, stock your supplies, and keep an eye on updates as Isaias tracks closer. It never hurts to be ready before the crowds hit the grocery store.
Are you prepared for hurricane season this year, or do you still need to stock up? Let us know in the comments.
