Hurricane Isaias, the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season, has resulted in at least four fatalities and left hundreds of thousands without power across the southeastern United States. The storm made landfall near Destin, Florida, on Friday evening as a Category 2 hurricane, with sustained winds of 169 km/h (105 mph), before weakening as it moved inland through Alabama overnight.
Two fatalities were reported in Alabama and two in Florida, with one death in Florida attributed to a falling tree during the storm. By Saturday morning, Isaias had weakened to a post-tropical cyclone with wind speeds of about 55 km/h (35 mph).
Initially, over 900,000 electricity customers in Florida, Alabama, and Georgia were without power early Saturday, but that number has since decreased to less than 700,000, according to PowerOutage.us. The storm caused widespread disruption due to fallen trees and downed power lines, and flooding led to road closures in parts of southern Alabama, including Houston County. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey expressed concern about strong winds, heavy rain, and potential tornadoes.
In Pensacola, Florida, local officials reported strong winds that damaged an airport and tore the roof off a hotel, with additional downed trees and power lines blocking roads. Despite the storm's weakening, officials warned that hazardous conditions could persist, with heavy rainfall posing a risk of flash flooding across parts of the Southeast.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stated that the flooding situation remains critical, as saturated ground and ongoing rainfall could lead to dangerous flooding even after the storm has passed. He noted that state search and rescue resources would remain available for potential emergency rescues due to rapidly rising waters.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier cautioned residents to be vigilant against contractors who may seek to exploit storm victims as homeowners begin repairs.
In response to the disruption of supply caused by Hurricane Isaias, the US Energy Department announced it would release up to four million barrels of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve as an emergency exchange. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright stated that this action is intended to help maintain refinery operations and limit disruptions to fuel supplies, ensuring access to affordable and reliable energy for American families and businesses.