Gulf communities evacuate ahead of Hurricane Isaias landfall

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Man boarding up home head of Hurricane Isaias Associated Press / Photo by Octavio Jones

Gulf communities evacuate ahead of Hurricane Isaias landfall

Gulf coast state leaders issued states of emergency and evacuation orders on Friday, before Hurricane Isaias was scheduled to make landfall later in the evening. First identified as a tropical storm, Isaias grew throughout the week into a Category 3 hurricane, expected to bring up to 15 inches of rain to areas of Florida’s Panhandle and Big Bend, the National Weather Service reported Friday. Weather officials warned of heavy rain and significant flash flooding in certain Gulf areas.

Florida: Gov. Ron DeSantis characterized Isaias as a significant storm during a Friday press conference, warning locals to brace for winds of up to 120 mph. DeSantis mobilized 5,000 National Guardsmen for support during and after the storm, along with 1,300 high-wheel vehicles, 500 construction clearance vehicles, 20 boats, and eight helicopters. At least four northeastern Florida counties also issued mandatory evacuation orders, while at least four other counties issued voluntary evacuation orders, according to the Florida state disaster map.

Alabama: Gov. Kay Ivey placed 40 counties under states of emergency and ordered residents in portions of multiple counties to evacuate, according to a Thursday video message. Ivey cited high winds, heavy rain, and the threat of subsequent tornadoes as the state’s biggest dangers.

Mississippi: Gov. Tate Reeves warned locals on Friday to remain vigilant despite the storm appearing to move east, away from the state. The storm is still expected to trigger a surge up to five feet from the coastal city of Biloxi east into Jackson County, he wrote.

Texas: Gov. Greg Abbott deployed Texas National Guardsmen on Friday to prepare for and to support Louisiana’s storm response.

Officials expected the storm to continue moving north through the weekend, dropping between two and five inches of rain across the rest of the Southeast. Some localities may receive up to 10 inches, specifically areas of the Southern Appalachians and coastal Carolinas, NWS reported.