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Hurricane Isaias makes landfall in Florida as states of emergency are declared
Overview
Hurricane Isaias has struck Florida's western panhandle as a category 2 hurricane with 110 mph winds, bringing life-threatening storm surges and flooding. Mandatory evacuations were instituted in Florida and Alabama, and states of emergency were declared across Florida, Alabama, and Georgia. Hundreds of thousands of residents are currently without power as the storm moves inland toward the Tennessee Valley. Meanwhile, two other storms, Hurricane Simon and Tropical Storm Rachel, are impacting Mexico and Southern California.
Key points
- Hurricane Isaias made landfall in Florida's western panhandle as a category 2 storm with 110 mph winds.
- Florida, Alabama, and Georgia declared states of emergency in anticipation of severe weather.
- Mandatory evacuations were ordered in parts of Florida and Alabama due to warnings of life-threatening storm surges up to 9 feet.
- Hundreds of thousands of customers lost power across the southeastern United States prior to and during landfall.
- The storm is forecast to move across Alabama and into the Tennessee Valley over the weekend.
- Two other weather systems, Hurricane Simon and Tropical Storm Rachel, are affecting Mexico and Southern California.