Isaias Weakens After Florida Landfall, Leaving Four Dead

Hurricane Isaias killed four people and left hundreds of thousands of customers without power after making landfall near Destin, Florida, as a Category 2 storm late Friday.

The storm struck with sustained winds of about 105 mph before weakening as it moved through Alabama overnight. By Saturday morning, it had become a post-tropical cyclone with winds near 35 mph. The Associated Press, Al Jazeera and Sky News reported four deaths; Al Jazeera said two occurred in Florida and two in Alabama, including at least two caused by falling trees.

Strong winds brought down trees and power lines across Florida, Alabama and Georgia. In Pensacola, officials reported damage to an airport and a hotel whose roof was torn off. Flooding also closed roads in southern Alabama as emergency crews assessed damage and cleared debris.

Officials warned that heavy rain could still cause flash flooding across the Southeast, while damaging winds and possible tornadoes remained concerns. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis cautioned residents about standing water, downed power lines and unsafe generator use, saying saturated ground could contribute to flooding after the storm had passed.

The U.S. Energy Department said it would release up to four million barrels of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve through an emergency exchange to address hurricane-related supply disruptions.