Hurricane Isaias Weakened After Hitting the US, but Flooding Remains a Threat

Hurricane Isaias struck Florida late Friday, local time, with winds reaching about 168 km/h (105 mph). At least four people died, two each in Florida and Alabama, and hundreds of thousands of people were left without electricity.

The storm weakened after making landfall and was downgraded from a hurricane. However, that does not mean the danger has passed. Heavy rain and strong winds continue to threaten parts of the southeastern United States, with weather officials warning of possible flooding, landslides and tornadoes. Some areas could receive substantial amounts of rain, creating further problems even as the storm loses strength.

The damage so far is serious, but the reported figures do not mean every affected area has experienced the same level of destruction. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said authorities had not received requests for search-and-rescue operations immediately after the storm made landfall. Nevertheless, trees fell on homes, buildings were damaged and people had to be rescued from vehicles caught in floodwaters. In one case in Florida, a man died from carbon monoxide poisoning after a generator was operated in a poorly ventilated garage.

For people in affected areas, the priority is to follow official warnings rather than assume conditions are safe because the storm has weakened. Flooded roads can be dangerous even when the water does not look deep. Generators must never be operated in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Meanwhile, Mexico is preparing for Hurricane Simon, which has strengthened to Category 4 and could bring powerful winds, heavy rain and high waves to the Pacific coast. Simon is a separate storm and should not be confused with Isaias. The bottom line: Isaias is weakening, but the risk of flooding and other dangerous conditions has not yet passed.