Isaias Leaves Hundreds of Thousands Without Electricity in the Deep South

The deep‑south states of Florida and Alabama are grappling with widespread power loss after Hurricane Isaias struck the Gulf Coast on Friday night. More than 726,000 customers have been plunged into darkness, and floodwater has inundated streets in Destin and neighboring communities. Police in Pensacola appealed for residents to remain indoors as debris and fallen trees block thoroughfares. In response to dangerous wind gusts and rain, several counties in the Panhandle paused non‑critical emergency services while damage assessments are underway. NOAA's National Hurricane Center continues to monitor Isaias, forecasting the possibility of tornadoes in select areas of Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas. Although the storm has weakened, the Weather Service predicts 10‑20 centimetres of rain across the weekend, which could trigger additional flooding in low‑lying zones. The storm also forced a temporary shutdown of flights at the Destin‑Fort Walton Beach airport.