Nearly 1 million without power after Hurricane Isaias makes landfall on Gulf Coast

Hurricane Isaias left hundreds of thousands of people across several states without power after the first major Atlantic storm of the season made landfall in Florida Friday evening.Almost 900,000 residents were without power across Florida, Alabama, and Georgia as of Saturday morning. In Florida alone, about 430,000 were in darkness. Roughly 900,000 people in the state evacuated before the hurricane made landfall near Destin as a Category 2 storm around 9:30 p.m. Friday, according to officials. Hours after landfall on the Gulf Coast, Hurricane Isaias weakened to a post-tropical cyclone as it moved inland, mitigating its impact.Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) said Saturday morning that a major catastrophe from the hurricane was avoided because the storm downgraded. “The last storm to hit the Florida Panhandle that people really remember was Michael in 2018,” he said during a Fox News interview. “I would say [Isaias] is much different than that. I mean, the Michael was almost like a tornado that just went through … anything in its path got leveled.”“This was not as well organized. It did break down — the wind shear … it got to major hurricane status. And then the shear did do a number on it, so it lost some of its structure,” he added. “Once the eye passed, there really wasn’t a lot passing. So in terms of the Michael versus this, I think the last one the people in the panhandle really remember, I think that they are very different.”The Trump administration authorized federal emergency declarations for Florida and Alabama on Friday night, meaning the Federal Emergency Management Agency will be able to aid states with federal disaster assistance. President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House at the time, “We’re watching it very closely, the hurricane,” adding that it was “under control”.Frank Winn, 84, evacuates with his wife from their home as Hurricane Isaias approaches Pensacola Beach, Fla., Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) The storm is expected to move across Alabama and into the Tennessee Valley later Saturday and Sunday, according to the National Hurricane Center. Flash and urban flooding will remain likely across the region.In Alabama, Gov. Kay Ivey (R-AL) said Saturday morning that her team remains worried about “strong winds, heavy rain and possible spinoff tornadoes” as Isaias continues to move across the state.“We only want to see one Tide roll this weekend,” she said. “Y’all be safe, heed local warnings and stay weather aware.” In Florida, the worst-hit state, DeSantis deployed 5,000 National Guard troops to aid with the response. Around 400 soldiers have been deployed to assess the hurricane’s damage and assist with route clearance, among other tasks.DESANTIS DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR TROPICAL STORM ISAIASThe governor said Friday that 16,000 lineworkers and support personnel have been mobilized for power restoration. After the hurricane made landfall, DeSantis said utility crews were prepared to begin restoration work as soon as conditions became safe.“They are going to respond, and I have no doubt that they’re going to do a very efficient and quick response,” the governor said. “However, it may not be instantaneous, and you may have some time where you don’t have power. So please be prepared for that.”