Hurricane Isaias came ashore near Destin as a Category 2 storm with 105 mph winds, and the Panhandle is feeling it this morning. Flooding, storm surge, and structural damage stretch along the coastline, while high winds tore part of a hotel roof off in Pensacola. By Saturday morning the storm had weakened to a post-tropical cyclone, but the impacts are still unfolding.
Hundreds of thousands of customers across Florida’s Big Bend and South Georgia are without power, and utility crews are working to restore service as conditions allow. President Trump approved a federal emergency declaration for Florida, opening the door to aid for the hardest-hit counties. Officials continue to warn residents about flash flooding, downed power lines, and the possibility of tornadoes in the storm’s aftermath.
For those of us here on the Suncoast, Isaias is a timely reminder that hurricane season runs through November. Now is the time to check your emergency kit, review your evacuation plan, and make sure your family knows what to do if a storm heads our way. If you’re traveling toward the Panhandle or South Georgia this weekend, check road conditions before you leave. Have you restocked your hurricane kit this year, or is there still a shopping trip in your future?
