Florida government gearing up for Tropical Storm Isaias
Tropical Storm Isaias, about 500 miles out with 50 mph winds, is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane and approach the northern Gulf coast by Friday, prompting a hurricane watch from Mississippi to Florida's Indian Pass. Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 25 panhandle counties and posted storm guidance to social media, though he had made no in-state public appearance by Wednesday afternoon, having spoken the previous night at an education conference in Philadelphia.
Sen. Rick Scott said he'd travel to Pensacola Thursday, and the state's emergency management team has activated, posting that partners are working 'around the clock.' CFO Blaise Ingoglia noted roughly 450,000 Florida residents have never lived through a hurricane and urged people to photograph their homes in advance for insurance purposes.
Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworsky ordered health insurers in the affected counties to allow early prescription refills for the duration of the emergency order. If it reaches hurricane strength before landfall, Isaias would be the state's first hurricane since Milton in October 2024, and, per University of Florida figures, among the latest-arriving first hurricanes of an Atlantic season on record since 1905.
The full dispatch is available from the source below.