New problem in Gulf; 1.3m barrels oil put off market
As Hurricane Isaias intensified into a Category 2 hurricane, it approached the U.S. Gulf Coast on Thursday, prompting tourists to evacuate beaches and locals to seek safer inland locations. Fishing crews secured their boats, anticipating the storm's potential destruction. The National Hurricane Center forecasted that Isaias could cause dangerous conditions in the Florida Panhandle, southern Alabama, and southern Mississippi when it made landfall late Friday or early Saturday.
Heavy rain, flooding, and possible tornadoes were projected to affect the region. Isaias, with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph, exceeded the threshold for a Category 2 storm. A hurricane warning was issued from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to the Bay-Gulf County line in Florida, while a storm surge warning covered the Mississippi to the Suwannee River.
Coastal communities scrambled to prepare, with Alabama Governor Kay Ivey ordering non-residents to evacuate Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Dauphin Island. Mobile traffic and closed beaches were visible on social media, and at least four Florida school districts canceled classes, while several counties announced mandatory evacuations. Governors of Florida and Alabama declared states of emergency for dozens of counties, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis expecting around 5,000 National Guard troops to be mobilized by Friday.
Dauphin Island, a popular Alabama barrier island, saw officials encouraging voluntary evacuations, especially on its western section vulnerable to storm surge. Isaias' storm surge and high tide could reach heights of 5 to 7 feet in some areas. The hurricane was expected to weaken after making landfall. The National Weather Service warned of potential long-lasting power outages.
The hurricane formed late in the season, tying a 121-year-old record for the area's latest-forming hurricane. Isaias was expected to impact a region familiar with major hurricanes, including Hurricane Camille in 1969, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and Hurricane Michael in 2018. Oil production and tourism in the Gulf were already affected, with about 63% of offshore production halted, taking nearly 1.3 million barrels of oil off the market daily.
Hurricane Isaias could also disrupt a college football game between Georgia and Alabama, which President Donald Trump planned to attend.
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