Cleanup operations are under way across the south-eastern United States after Hurricane Isaias struck the Gulf Coast, leaving about 356,000 customers without power in southern Alabama and north-west Florida.
The storm made landfall near Destin, Florida, on Friday as a Category 2 hurricane, with at least four deaths linked to its passage. At its height, it cut electricity to almost 800,000 homes and businesses across the region.
Florida Power and Light spokesperson Sarah Gatewood said crews from across Florida, along with workers from more than two dozen other states, had been mobilised to restore supplies.
Storm damage across Florida and Alabama
Isaias moved north into Alabama on Saturday, bringing strong tropical-storm-force winds before weakening into a post-tropical cyclone and continuing towards the Appalachian region.
The National Weather Service said surface observations indicated maximum sustained winds of 100mph (160km/h), with an estimated central pressure of 28.88 inches, or 978 millibars.
Buildings and infrastructure were damaged in Florida and Alabama. The roof of the Rest and Relax Inn in Pensacola was torn away, while a boathouse in Destin was flattened.
Pensacola, in the western Florida Panhandle, suffered widespread damage to power infrastructure and buildings. Hundreds of vehicles queued near a United Cajun Navy distribution centre on Saturday as residents sought basic supplies.
Pensacola mayor DC Reeves warned of critical drinking water shortages after wells and water infrastructure were affected. Residents remain under an advisory to boil tap water before using it.
“We are winding down day three of storm response and recovery operations, and we remain focused on public safety, clearing debris, and restoring critical infrastructure and services,” Mr Reeves said on social media.
Pensacola International airport, Florida’s tenth-largest airfield, has been closed indefinitely because of severe damage.
Flooding threat moves north
Although the storm has weakened, the mid-Atlantic region remains at risk of flash flooding. In Houston County, Alabama, fallen trees and power lines have made travel hazardous, while an emergency flash flood warning remains in force.
“Due to the impacts of Hurricane Isaias, all Houston County roads are closed until further notice,” state emergency officials said in a post on X.
