Storm Isaias kills 4 as it moves through southern US

Officials confirmed four deaths caused by Storm Isaias as it moved through the southern United States on Saturday.

Two fatalities occurred in Florida, while the other two were in Alabama. The storm initially made landfall on Friday evening as a Category 2 hurricane near Destin, Florida, marking the first Atlantic hurricane of the 2026 season.

Florida, Alabama, and Georgia have declared states of emergency. PowerOutage.com reported over 500,000 customers are without electricity in Florida and Alabama.

The Florida Division of Emergency Management activated approximately 5,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen to assist impacted communities. The storm caused heavy rainfall, strong winds, and risks of flooding and tornadoes, with buildings having roofs ripped off and trees downed.

Storm Isaias has weakened into a post-tropical cyclone and is moving over Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia, according to the National Hurricane Center. The NHC warned of possible flash and urban flooding, and landslides in the Southern Appalachians.

Additional warnings include wind gusts, power outages, and downed trees. Swells from Isaias are expected to impact the Gulf coasts of the US, Mexico, and western Cuba, with life-threatening surf and rip current conditions likely. Tornadoes are also possible in eastern Georgia and the Carolinas.