Post-tropical Isaias leaves at least 3 dead in Southeast, as flood threat, heavy rains persist
At least three deaths were reported from Post-Tropical Storm Isaias, which made landfall Friday as a dangerous Category 2 storm, lashing the northern Gulf Coast with destructive winds and life-threatening storm surge.
ISAIAS THREATENS MORE THAN COASTLINE WITH IMPACTS TO PUSH INLAND ACROSS SOUTH
The powerful storm made landfall at 9:30 p.m. ET near Destin, Florida, with sustained winds of 105 mph.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said the storm became post-tropical early Saturday, meaning that it has lost its tropical characteristics and is no longer being fueled primarily by warm ocean water.
However, the storm's impacts are far from over.
On Saturday morning, a death was confirmed in Birmingham, Alabama, when a tree fell on a home.
Alabama Governor Kay Ivy said on Saturday afternoon that a second Alabamian was confirmed dead.
"I am praying for their loved ones this morning," she said in a social media update.
Another fatality was confirmed in Escambia County, Florida, when a woman was killed after a large tree collapsed onto a home during the storm.
Post-tropical Isaias is producing heavy rain across Alabama and Georgia, while a dangerous tornado threat remains across parts of the Florida Panhandle, Georgia and South Carolina.
Reports of building damage are coming in from parts of the Florida Panhandle, where residents reported destructive winds ripping the roof off a hotel in Pensacola.
The National Weather Service (NSW) said many areas experienced hurricane-force winds, with gusts reaching 116 mph at Santa Rosa Sound, Florida, 114 mph at Whiting Field and 102 mph in Pensacola.
Bellwood, Alabama, and Defuniak Springs, Florida, have seen more than a foot of rain from Hurricane Isaias as the storm's remnants fuel a dangerous flash flood threat across the region Saturday.
A Level 3 of 4 flood risk has been issued for Saturday across parts of northern Georgia and the Blue Ridge Mountains, including the Atlanta and Asheville, North Carolina, metro areas.
Meanwhile, in Panama City Beach, Florida, water levels reached 5.4 feet above the average high tide level, indicating significant coastal flooding.
A Flash Flood Emergency was issued Friday night for Fort Walton Beach and Destin, Florida for potential life-threatening flooding.
More than 900,000 customers were without power across the Southeast early Saturday as post-topical Isaias barreled its way inland.
The majority of outages are concentrated across the Florida Panhandle and southern Alabama, but outages are also mounting in western Georgia.
FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance is available for Florida and Alabama residents.
The storm’s remnants will spread across more than 15 states in the eastern U.S. Sunday.
This story is developing. Check back frequently for updates.
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