PENSACOLA, Fla. — Florida officials are stepping up emergency preparations as Hurricane Isaias approaches the northern Gulf Coast, threatening the Panhandle with dangerous winds, storm surge, flooding and possible tornadoes.
The National Hurricane Center reported maximum sustained winds of 120 mph at 11 a.m. CDT Friday, Oct. 9.
Evacuation orders are in effect for parts of several Panhandle and North Florida counties, including zones, islands, and low-lying areas. Officials urge residents to evacuate before conditions worsen.
Residents are also being urged to fill their vehicle gas tanks, stock water and nonperishable food for several days, and prepare for power outages. State officials expect impacts across much of the Panhandle, including inland flooding in areas already saturated by recent rainfall.
The National Hurricane Center warned of life-threatening storm surge and devastating winds along the Florida Panhandle and Alabama coasts. State officials cautioned that dangerous conditions could extend east of the storm’s center.
To help with response efforts, the Florida Division of Emergency Management has prepared over 1,000 generators, 500,000 gallons of gasoline, 1 million gallons of diesel fuel, more than 3 million Meals Ready to Eat, and 1.1 million bottles of water. They have also thoughtfully pre-positioned search-and-rescue equipment in areas likely to be affected, showing their dedication to ensuring safety and support.
More than 6,000 utility workers and restoration personnel are on standby to respond to power outages, according to state briefing coverage.
Jared Perdue, executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, urged residents to act before the storm arrives. “Execute your plan now,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said during Thursday’s briefing. “You still have time to do it, but the time is running out.”
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