Despite Hurricane Isaías moving out of Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis warned on Saturday that the danger is far from over for the state's northwest. Heavy rains expected over the next 24 to 48 hours could lead to severe flooding in the Panhandle and Big Bend regions. Isaías had already left a trail of destruction after making landfall near Destin as a Category 2 hurricane the previous night.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) downgraded Isaías to a post-tropical cyclone at 5:00 a.m. on Saturday, with sustained winds of just 34 mph. However, they maintained warnings for additional rainfall ranging from 4 to 8 inches over the weekend, with isolated areas potentially receiving up to 15 inches.
Governor DeSantis emphasized, "Although the system's center has left Florida, the flood threat remains." He noted that flooding typically occurs a day or two after a hurricane's passage, which is why National Guard and other state agency search and rescue teams are still on alert.
During the storm's impact, water levels at Panama City Beach exceeded normal levels by about 5.5 feet, with gusts reaching up to 116 mph near Santa Rosa Sound and over 100 mph around Pensacola.
As of dawn, the power outage situation was dire, with 448,000 accounts without service in Florida, as reported by DeSantis at 7:00 a.m. Of these, 323,000 were Florida Power & Light customers and 110,000 belonged to various cooperatives in the state's northwest. The hardest-hit counties included Santa Rosa, where 90% of customers were without electricity, followed by Holmes (89%), Washington (86%), Walton (85%), Escambia (75%), and Okaloosa (53%).
To address the power outages, over 16,000 electrical workers had been pre-positioned before the storm hit. Crews began operations in the early morning hours, while personnel from the Florida Department of Transportation and Highway Patrol started clearing roads from 3:00 a.m. By 6:00 a.m., all state bridges had been inspected and reopened, with major routes like Interstate 10 and US 98 operational.
The hurricane claimed at least one life in Florida. Although DeSantis mentioned in his briefing that no fatalities had been confirmed yet, Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons later confirmed the death of a woman whose home was crushed by a tree near Scenic Highway in Cordova at approximately 8:48 p.m. on Friday.
A second fatality was reported in Birmingham, Alabama, where a tree fell on a house in the Huffman area. The regional power outage total exceeded 800,000 customers without electricity across Florida, Alabama, and Georgia.
Authorities also warned about scams proliferating in the aftermath of hurricanes. The state attorney's office cautioned against price gouging on fuel, food, and supplies, as well as unlicensed contractors from other states offering roof repairs. Fraudulent text messages posing as tree removal services coordinated with insurance companies were also reported. "These appear to be scams. Do not respond," the attorney's office urged, advising to report any irregularities at myfloridalegal.com.
Regarding federal assistance, President Trump approved an emergency declaration for 27 Florida counties before the storm hit, and DeSantis confirmed speaking with FEMA's administrator. However, the governor acknowledged that access to additional federal reimbursements would depend on damages exceeding required thresholds, and admitted that Florida lacks a state-level individual assistance program equivalent to the federal one.
"The story of the floods is not over, which is partly why we are not demobilizing our search and rescue teams," DeSantis concluded.
FAQs About Florida's Flood Threat Post-Isaías
What areas in Florida are most at risk for flooding?
The Panhandle and Big Bend regions are at the highest risk for severe flooding due to expected heavy rains in the next 24 to 48 hours.
How many people are affected by power outages?
As of the latest report, 448,000 accounts are without power in Florida, with significant impacts also in Alabama and Georgia, totaling over 800,000 customers without electricity.
What measures are in place to restore power?
Over 16,000 electrical workers were pre-positioned to respond to outages, with operations starting in the early morning to restore power as quickly as possible.
Are there any reported fatalities due to the hurricane?
There have been two confirmed fatalities: one in Florida and another in Alabama, both caused by trees falling on homes.