Hurricane Isaias

Isaias, the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season, formed in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico on October 6; its precursor had already flooded the Mexican states of Tamaulipas and Veracruz. The storm peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with 120 mph winds, then made landfall near Destin, Florida, in the United States around 8:30 p.m. CDT on October 9 as a Category 2 with 105 mph winds. It was the first hurricane to make U.S. landfall since Milton in 2024. As it moved inland across Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas, Isaias spawned 24 tornadoes, rated up to EF2.

Isaias killed nine people: six in Florida, two in Alabama and one in Greenwood County, South Carolina. About 900,000 customers lost power, including about 450,000 in Florida, more than 300,000 in Alabama and more than 126,000 in Georgia. Damage is estimated at more than $2 billion. In Santa Rosa County, Florida, about 100 structures were destroyed and 400 severely damaged, with damage estimated at about $250 million, and Escambia County put damage to county buildings at about $64 million.

Florida declared a state of emergency for 25 counties and Alabama for 40, and Georgia also declared a state of emergency. Federal declarations cover government response costs, but as of October 14 it had not been determined whether FEMA individual assistance would be made available to households.

The American Red Cross opened 21 shelters that housed more than 1,000 people across the Gulf Coast. The Salvation Army deployed canteens in Escambia County, Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach, Panama City and Mobile. Samaritan's Purse sent a team of about 80 people and has logged more than 1,000 work orders, World Central Kitchen is responding in Florida and Alabama, and Operation Blessing served meals at Brownsville Church in Pensacola.