Storm Isaias leaves 4 dead as it moves across southern US

Storm Isaias has claimed four lives as it traverses the southern United States, officials announced on Saturday. Two fatalities occurred in Florida, while the remaining pair were reported in Alabama. Isaias initially made landfall on Friday evening as a Category 2 hurricane near Destin, Florida, marking the first Atlantic hurricane of the 2026 season.

In response to the storm, Florida, Alabama and Georgia have all declared states of emergency. Over 500,000 power customers in Florida and Alabama are currently without electricity, according to PowerOutage.com. The Florida Division of Emergency Management has deployed approximately 5,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen to assist affected communities.

Isaias brought intense rainfall and strong winds, leading to potential flooding, tornadoes, and damage to structures. The storm has weakened into a post-tropical cyclone and is now moving through Tennessee, Kentucky, and into West Virginia. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued warnings of possible flash and urban flooding, landslides across the Southern Appalachians, and additional power outages, damaged trees, and life-threatening surf and rip current conditions along the Gulf coasts of the US, Mexico, and western Cuba.

A couple of tornadoes may also develop across eastern Georgia and the Carolinas. Meanwhile, Hurricane Simon has intensified to Category 4 strength as it heads towards Mexico's Pacific coast, where it is forecast to make landfall on Sunday, potentially affecting the tourist destination of Puerto Vallarta.