Hurricane Isaias Causes Widespread Power Outages in Florida and Alabama
Early Sunday, nearly 396,000 customers across the Florida Panhandle and southern Alabama remained without power as remnants of Hurricane Isaias moved northward. Heavy rainfall was expected to be the primary hazard affecting central Appalachians and mid-Atlantic regions, with potential for flash flooding and downed trees or power lines. At least four deaths were linked to the storm, including two in Florida and Alabama where falling trees struck homes. The hurricane made landfall as a Category 2 near Destin, Florida, causing significant damage such as roof destruction at a Pensacola hotel and structural harm along coastal areas. Federal emergency declarations for Georgia followed those already issued for Florida and Alabama to facilitate aid. The U.S. Energy Department authorized emergency crude oil exchanges from the strategic petroleum reserve due to potential supply disruptions caused by the storm.
