Hurricane

Florida has asked for a major disaster declaration from the White House a week after Hurricane Isaias tore through a swath of the Panhandle and was blamed for six deaths.

DeSantis claimed the hecklers were “pre-staged” and argued back, saying: “If that’s what you want to focus on, pointing fingers about the Secretary of Education - I want to focus on relief for people.”

In the past, states relied heavily on federal aid and expertise to respond quickly to disasters. But in communities across the U.S., people recovering from floods, storms and wildfires in 2025 and 2026 have been left waiting much longer for federal aid – if it arrives at all.

Hurricane Isaias shattered the peace of one of the quietest Atlantic hurricane seasons on record as it grew into 2026’s first Atlantic hurricane and made landfall on the northern Gulf Coast near Destin, Fla., late on Oct. 9. As an atmospheric scientist who has studied hurricanes for years, I can tell you that wind shear and the climate phenomenon known as El Niño both play important roles.

Hurricane Simon is still pounding Mexico's Pacific coast as it remains offshore. Authorities said Monday that five people have died in Mexico due to the hurricane and the remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel. Rachel caused street flooding and other damage in Mexico's Baja California state. Four people died after Rachel swept through over the weekend and at least six were missing.

Food, water, business loans — even laundry services — are available in Northwest Florida.

Hurricane Isaias is linked to at least four deaths, after the storm made landfall on the Florida coast and ran through Alabama. More than 390,000 people were without power as of Sunday morning.

Gov. Ron DeSantis says state weathered storm well compared to past hurricanes.

Numerous damaging tornadoes are possible even after the hurricane moves inland and weakens; the heavy rains will continue throughout Saturday morning across the Florida Panhandle. (Version in Spanish here, too)

Landfalling tropical systems have a history of producing tornadoes, but the atmospheric ingredients around Hurricane Isaias appear conducive for supercells and tornadoes across northern Florida.

Hurricane Isaias landed Friday night on the Florida Gulf Coast. The storm was expected to bring life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds, flooding and the possibility of tornados.

Tropical Storm Isaias is now the first Atlantic hurricane of 2026 — and it's spinning toward the southeastern U.S.