Hurricane Isais pushes into southeastern US after landfall in Florida

Hurricane Isais crashes into the northern Gulf Coast of Florida in the US on Friday as a dangerous Category 2 storm with heavy rains and violent winds before moving north through Alabama. Florida's national guard has sent thousands of soldiers and airmen to aid with the response.

Isais, the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season, made landfall near Destin, Florida Friday night and had maximum sustained winds of 105 miles per hour.

Although the storm weakened to below major hurricane status before it came ashore, forecasters have warned that the damaging gusts could stir up tornadoes across the Florida Panhandle and into southern Georgia.

Isais's impacts came into view in Panama City beach where winds sent deck chairs flying several metres in the air. Residents saw whipped palm trees and surging waves along beaches. Roads in low-lying coastal area are inundated, while more than 594,000 customers were reportedly knocked out of power Friday night, according to poweroutage.com.

Many Floridians spent the past few days fortifying beachfront properties. Some told reporters they headed for safer ground as the storm approached. At a news conference, Governor Ron DeSantis cautioned flash flooding would be a hazard throughout the region and detailed authorities' extensive preparations in the northern parts of the state.

"The resources have been flowing. The preparations have been extensive, and we are taking this storm very, very seriously. The Florida National Guard has mobilised 5,000 National Guardsmen that will be ready to go by the time the storm hits. Florida Department of Environmental Protection has pre-authorised 242 disaster debris management sites to help expedite cleanup efforts following the storm."

DeSantis also says point-of-distribution sites will be set up "very quickly" for families if necessary.

US President Donald Trump states Washington is watching the passage of the hurricane very closely, claiming the situation is "under control."