Hurricane Isaias developed into the first hurricane of the current Atlantic season on Wednesday night as it tracked toward the Gulf Coast.
Landfall is expected today in Mississippi, Alabama, and Pensacola, Florida.
As of the latest update this morning, the storm is classified as Category 2 and threatens to bring severe flooding. Residents are boarding up windows and stacking sandbags to protect their homes, while thousands of National Guard troops have been deployed to support emergency response efforts. Evacuation efforts began yesterday, with voluntary orders issued along coastal Alabama and mandatory orders enacted in certain parts of Florida.
Isaias is packing maximum sustained winds of 105 mph. Experts predicted that Isaias could reach Category 3 intensity today before striking. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has ordered immediate evacuations for non-residents in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Dauphin Island as authorities prepare for the storm’s arrival.