Hurricane Isaias makes landfall in Florida as Category 2 storm

Hurricane Isaias slammed into the Florida coast near Destin as a Category 2 storm, according to the US National Hurricane Center. The tempest bore down on the Panhandle at 105 mph, its eye nestled 50 miles west-northwest of Panama City. Coastal towns from Gulf Shores in Mississippi to Panama City on Florida's Gulf side braced for damaging winds, inundation, and a potent storm surge.

Resident Anne Petzold of Gulf Breeze took up hurricane shutters and cleared yards of potential projectiles. "Everybody does what they can do, everybody asks if they need help — they ask for help, they offer help. All good. It's just another adventure," she remarked.

Power outages affected more than 365,000 customers in Florida and Alabama. Mobile, Alabama, ordered a curfew, and Mobile officials reported fallen trees and power lines. The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority warned residents to boil water in certain areas. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis urged residents to brace for power shortages, fuel scarcity, and possible closures of bridges and highways. The National Guard in Florida deployed 5,000 personnel and standby search-and-rescue teams. Some prisons even evacuated inmates.

The National Hurricane Center predicted 4 to 8 inches of rainfall over the region, with local maxima of 15 inches. Isaias was forecast to weaken as it moved inland, but hazardous conditions could persist across the southeastern US.