Isaias death toll rises to four as Southeast cleans up
Isaias is now blamed for four deaths, two in Florida and two in Alabama. The storm came ashore near Destin, Florida, as a Category 2 hurricane Friday night. By Saturday evening about 500,000 customers across the Southeast were still without power, and Georgia had a federal emergency declaration.
The death toll from Isaias rose to four on Saturday as the storm faded over the Southeast.
Isaias made landfall near Destin, Florida, late Friday as a Category 2 hurricane with 105 mph winds. It weakened to a post-tropical cyclone within hours as it moved over Alabama.
Two people died in Escambia County, Florida, and two died in Alabama, officials said. In two of the deaths, trees fell onto homes. One was in Escambia County and one was in the Birmingham area. Another Escambia County death was linked to a generator running in a closed garage, The Guardian reported. Four relatives of that person went to the hospital with carbon monoxide poisoning. "Don't run any generators inside your home," Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis warned.
Power outages peaked near 900,000 customers early Saturday, NPR reported, citing PowerOutage.us. About 670,000 were still dark at midday in Florida, Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi, CNBC reported. The BBC put the total near 500,000 by Saturday evening.
In Georgia, crews restored power to nearly 100,000 customers as cleanup began, FOX 5 Atlanta reported. President Donald Trump approved a federal emergency declaration for 76 Georgia counties.
DeSantis said Florida received no search-and-rescue requests right after landfall, a sign the damage was more limited than feared. Major coastal roads were open by daybreak. Forecasters still warned of flash flooding and possible tornadoes in parts of Georgia and the Carolinas. Isaias was expected to break up on Sunday.
What we know: four deaths, two in Florida and two in Alabama, and a Category 2 landfall near Destin.
What we don't: how long full power restoration will take across the Southeast.
Where outlets agree The BBC and The Guardian both report four deaths, two in Florida and two in Alabama.
Where they differ CNBC says Isaias made landfall early on Saturday, while NPR and The Guardian say it came ashore late Friday.