Birmingham:At least two fatalities and significant power outages occurred in Alabama and Florida as Hurricane Isaias weakened into a post-tropical cyclone. Officials cautioned about ongoing flooding and the potential for tornadoes.
According to Anadolu Agency, one person in Birmingham, Alabama, was killed early Saturday when a tree fell on their house, as reported by a Jefferson County emergency management official. Several other homes in the vicinity were also damaged.
In Pensacola, Florida, another fatality was reported when a person was trapped under a tree that collapsed onto a residential home on Friday evening, as confirmed by the Escambia County Sheriff's Office.
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey alerted residents to the possibility of 'spinoff tornadoes,' strong winds, and heavy rainfall as the storm moved further inland. She advised people to "hope for the best, prepare for the worst," and to rely on credible information as weather conditions evolved.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis noted that the storm's center had exited the state, yet the threat of flooding persisted. Wind gusts reached 116 miles per hour near Santa Rosa Sound, and water levels rose approximately 5.5 feet above normal.
The National Hurricane Center reported that Isaias had downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone, with sustained winds of around 35 miles per hour. The system was predicted to pass through Alabama and into the Tennessee Valley before dissipating on Sunday.
Forecasters anticipated rainfall of 4 to 8 inches across parts of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, with localized amounts reaching up to 15 inches.
Power outages were widespread, affecting about 872,000 customers nationwide, including over 434,000 in Florida and around 317,000 in Alabama, according to PowerOutage.us.