Isaias: 450K Without Power in NW Florida; No Deaths

Nearly 450,000 utility customers in Northwest Florida remained without power Saturday morning following Hurricane Isaias, Governor Ron DeSantis announced. State officials have not confirmed any storm-related fatalities as recovery efforts continue.

Isaias made landfall near Destin at 9:30 p.m. Friday as a Category 2 storm with 105 mph sustained winds. Wind gusts reached 116 mph near Santa Rosa Sound, and storm surge elevated water levels 5.5 feet above normal in some areas.

The hurricane has since weakened and moved out of Florida, but DeSantis warned flooding remains a concern. The Panhandle and Big Bend could receive 4 to 8 inches of rain through the weekend.

DeSantis stated that reports of a possible death in Escambia County linked to a fallen tree had not yet been confirmed by the state. Over 16,000 linemen were staged ahead of the storm, and crews began restoration efforts at 3 a.m. Saturday. By 7 a.m., 448,000 customer accounts statewide were without electricity. This included 323,000 Florida Power & Light customers and 110,000 customers served by electric cooperatives.

Hardest-hit counties included Santa Rosa (90% of customers lost power), Holmes (89%), Washington (86%), Walton (85%), Escambia (75%), and Okaloosa (53%).

The Florida Department of Transportation and Florida Highway Patrol conducted overnight "cut and toss" operations to clear roads, including U.S. 1. All state-owned bridges reopened by 6 a.m. Saturday, along with Interstate 10 and U.S. 98.

Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport resumed commercial operations Saturday morning. Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport and Pensacola International Airport remained closed.

Florida Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Jared Perdue confirmed state teams remain on standby for search and rescue operations due to continued flood risks. Officials urged residents to avoid driving through flooded roadways, stay clear of downed power lines, and limit unnecessary travel.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier cautioned residents about potential scams, including fraudulent text messages offering tree-removal services and unlicensed contractors seeking repair work.

Damage assessments are underway to determine if Florida qualifies for additional federal disaster aid beyond the pre-landfall emergency declaration approved by FEMA.

DeSantis planned to visit storm-damaged areas in the Panhandle later Saturday to assess conditions and meet with local officials.