Hurricane Isaias Slams Florida and Alabama, Nearly 400,000 Without Power

Nearly 396,000 customers across the Florida Panhandle and southern Alabama remained without power Sunday morning as the remnants of Hurricane Isaias pushed northward, where moderate to heavy rain is forecast across the central Appalachians and the mid-Atlantic region.

According to the US National Weather Service (NWS), heavy rain accompanying the storm could trigger localized flash flooding and strong wind gusts, which will remain a threat across the southeastern United States, especially near the southern Appalachians. This could lead to scattered power outages and downed trees and power lines. Dangerous surf and rip currents are likely to continue along the Gulf Coast and the southeastern Atlantic coast.

At least 4 people have died in connection with the storm, including 2 killed when trees fell onto homes in Florida and Alabama. Forecasters warn that flooding could extend to the Appalachians.

Isaias made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane on Friday near Destin, Florida, a Gulf of Mexico resort town known for its high-rise buildings and tourist shops.

Despite earlier storm surge warnings, by Saturday morning many major coastal roads had reopened and were no longer littered with downed trees and power lines as is typically seen after major hurricanes.

Hurricane-force winds in the Florida Panhandle blew the roof off a hotel in Pensacola, and the city's mayor said the airport "also sustained damage." The storm collapsed a boathouse in Destin and tore away part of the facade of a high-rise building in Panama City Beach.

In Escambia County, Florida, Sheriff Chip Simmons said a woman was killed when a tree fell onto her home, and a man died from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a generator running in his garage. Four members of the man's family, ranging in age from 4 to 72, were treated but were expected to survive.

The first storm of the Atlantic season, Isaias continued to push into Alabama with strong tropical-storm-force winds.

One person was killed when a tree fell onto a home in Birmingham, according to city Fire Chief Cory Moon. Another storm-related death in Alabama was believed to be from a traffic accident involving a downed tree in Barbour County, according to Josh Johnson of the state emergency management agency.

Along the Alabama Gulf Coast, authorities in Mobile reported numerous downed trees and power lines.

President Donald Trump approved an emergency declaration for Georgia after doing the same for Florida and Alabama, freeing up federal assistance.

The US Department of Energy has authorized an emergency exchange of crude oil from the Strategic National Petroleum Reserve to address supply disruptions caused by the storm.

The NWS said parts of Georgia and the two Carolinas could see heavy rain causing flash flooding.

Meanwhile, in the Pacific, Hurricane Simon intensified to 155 mph (250 km/h), just below the threshold for a Category 5 storm, as it approached the coast of Mexico. Simon is expected to bring heavy rain starting Sunday to parts of southwestern Mexico, along with dangerous flooding and landslides.

Tropical Storm Rachel is also forecast to bring strong winds and rain to northern Mexico and southern California.