Florida deploys 16,000 power workers and 5,000 National Guard troops ahead of Hurricane Isaías
Governor Ron DeSantis warned residents that these are the final hours to evacuate as the Category 3 storm threatens the Gulf Coast.
The short version
- Metro Puerto Rico reported that Florida has deployed over 16,000 electric company workers and 5,000 National Guard members ahead of the storm
- Telemundo Puerto Rico reported that Isaías is expected to make landfall Friday night or early Saturday along the Alabama-Florida border
- Metro Puerto Rico reported that roughly 63 percent of daily oil production and 57 percent of natural gas output in the Gulf of Mexico have been suspended
- Both outlets reported that governors in Florida and Alabama have declared states of emergency
Preparations for landfall
Florida has deployed more than 16,000 workers from electric companies and 5,000 members of the National Guard as Hurricane Isaías approaches, Metro Puerto Rico reported. Governor Ron DeSantis said these are the last hours to evacuate if instructed to do so. The National Hurricane Center said Isaías strengthened to Category 3 with winds near 120 mph and threatens more than 20 million people. It is forecast to make landfall Friday night or early Saturday between Florida and Alabama.
Telemundo Puerto Rico reported that storm surge of 5 to 7 feet, heavy rainfall up to 15 inches and tornadoes are possible from Friday night into Saturday across parts of Alabama, Florida and southwest Georgia. The governor warned residents to assume they will lose power. He highlighted that after Hurricane Milton in 2024, power was restored to 4.2 million customers in 72 hours.
Oil and gas production halted
Metro Puerto Rico reported that as a result of the hurricane, 62.89 percent of daily oil production and 57.35 percent of natural gas production in the Gulf of Mexico have been suspended, according to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. Telemundo Puerto Rico reported that approximately 63 percent of oil production had been halted, removing nearly 1.3 million barrels per day from the market, and that 121 of 371 manned platforms had been evacuated.
DeSantis also said the state has 500,000 gallons of gasoline, 1 million gallons of diesel, 35,000 gallons of aviation fuel, more than 1,000 generators and 1.1 million bottles of water available. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey declared an emergency for 40 counties. The storm is the first Atlantic hurricane of the season and the first to make landfall in the continental United States in two years.
Where the sources differ
The sources agree that Florida has deployed thousands of power workers and National Guard troops, that a state of emergency has been declared, that oil production in the Gulf has been significantly halted, and that Isaías is the first hurricane of the Atlantic season. Metro Puerto Rico reported the governor's comments from Pensacola, the exact percentages of 62.89 percent oil and 57.35 percent gas suspended, the 16,000 power workers figure, and that Isaías reached Category 3 with 120 mph winds threatening over 20 million people. Telemundo Puerto Rico reported specific storm surge heights of 5 to 7 feet, rainfall up to 15 inches, possible tornadoes, the 1.3 million barrels per day figure, platform evacuations, and school closures. Only Metro Puerto Rico reported the natural gas suspension percentage.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state how many people have actually evacuated, the expected number of customers who will lose power, whether any deaths or injuries have occurred, the precise time and location of landfall, or what federal assistance has been requested or approved. They also do not detail the full extent of expected damage or recovery timelines beyond past references.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Reporting Florida despliega 16,000 trabajadores de compañías eléctricas ante la llegada del huracán Isaías
- Reporting Florida movilizará 5,000 soldados de la Guardia Nacional ante la llegada del huracán Isaías
How we checked this
Metro Puerto Rico and Telemundo Puerto Rico both covered the preparations by Florida and Alabama for Hurricane Isaías. The deployment numbers, governor's warnings and oil and gas suspension percentages rest on Metro Puerto Rico while the detailed forecast numbers for surge, rain and tornadoes rest on Telemundo Puerto Rico.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.