Storm preparations ramp up across Southeast as future Hurricane Isaias barrels toward to US
Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, allowing local officials to accelerate storm preparations ahead of the impending hurricane.
Exclusive analysis: Tropical Storm Isaias to threaten the Gulf as a hurricane
Tropical Storm Isaias is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane before slamming the Gulf Coast from Louisiana to Florida. FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross gives exclusive analysis into the storm's track and where the most severe impacts may be. Find out what he has to say:
FLORIDA – Future Hurricane Isaias continues to churn after days of development in the Gulf of America, prompting a state of emergency declaration for thousands in Florida.
Governor Ron DeSantis declared the emergency on Tuesday, allowing local officials to accelerate storm preparations ahead of the impending hurricane.
TIMELINE: WHERE TROPICAL STORM ISAIAS IS HEADED AND WHEN IT COULD BECOME A HURRICANE
The declaration covers 25 counties in the Sunshine State, allowing emergency crews to mobilize resources and stage them strategically across portions of the state to be ready for rapid deployment if needed.
STUART, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 8: People fill bags with sand at a local park in preparation for Hurricane Milton on October 8, 2024 in Stuart, Florida. Milton, which came just after the recent catastrophic hurricane Helene, has strengthened to a Category 5 storm as it approaches Florida's central Gulf Coast and is expected to make landfall midweek. (Saul Martinez / Getty Images)
Emergency response assets
- Generators
- Fuel
- Flood barriers
- Boxed water pallets
- Shelf-stable meals
- Flood buckets
- Tarps
- Tiger dams
- Sandbags
Prolonged onshore winds, elevated water levels, high tides and persistent heavy rainfall will likely produce flooding along the coast of Florida.
Locations such as Panama City have already begun preparations, allowing residents and businesses to fill up to 10 sandbags each from Wednesday through Friday night, ahead of the impending flood threat from future Hurricane Isaias.
FUTURE HURRICANE ISAIAS TRACKER: STORM PATH, FORECAST CONE, SPAGHETTI MODELS, WIND AND FLOOD THREAT
Other cities, like Pensacola and Destin, are offering free sand at eight locations on a first-come, first-served basis. They are open 24 hours a day, according to Escambia County officials.
Along with this, Miami-based Emergency Sandbag Response has been activated amidst the growing trends of alerts, shipping thousands of sandbags north to assist communities preparing for the incoming heavy rain and severe flooding.
"The best time to move sandbags is before people are standing in line for them," said Founder of Emergency Sandbag Response, Albert Sotero. "Our goal is to help communities get ahead of the weather, so residents and emergency crews have one less problem to solve when conditions deteriorate."
The future hurricane has entered an area favorable for development, with high ocean heat content and a moist mid-level atmosphere that allowed it to intensify, the FOX Forecast Center said.
DO SANDBAGS ACTUALLY PREVENT FLOODING? WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE A BIG STORM
Residents are being advised to fill sandbags in the coming days. The use of sandbags to stop flooding has been around for centuries, with their formal adoption for flood control following their military use in fortifying trenches.
Preparation for the approaching Hurricane Hilary, residents of San Bernardino fill sandbags at Wildwood Park on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023, with a line forming as they await their turn. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda/MediaNews Group/The Press-Enterprise via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Isaias will bring heavy rain, winds, tornadoes and some storm surge potential, according to the National Weather Service in Tallahassee.
Rainfall estimates are expected to range around 6 to 10 inches, triggering a flood threat for thousands along the coast.
TROPICAL STORM ISAIAS CHURNS IN GULF AS OIL RIGS PREPARE FOR POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS
A Level 3 out of 4 flood risk is in place across the Gulf Coast on Friday, prompting officials to begin storm preparations.
Tune into FOX Weather through the weekend to stay updated.