As the United States grapples with the coronavirus, it also has a Category 1 hurricane heading for the mainland.
Hurricane Isaias, packing 85 mph sustained winds, was over the Bahamas on Saturday morning, and forecasts indicate it is expected to graze Florida over the weekend before heading up the entire eastern seaboard, bringing with it dangerous storm surge and heavy rain.
Good morning- here are the Key Messages for Saturday morning, August 1 for Hurricane Isaias. The latest NHC forecast is at https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB and US local weather information is at https://t.co/SiZo8ohZMN. pic.twitter.com/kCWeFwqjDW
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 1, 2020
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency on Friday and has been warning residents of the Sunshine State to prepare. All state-run coronavirus testing has been shuttered due to the impending storm.
“I’ve signed Executive Order 20-181, declaring a state of emergency for counties in the path of Hurricane #Isaias. For those living on the East Coast, prepare now. Have 7 days of food, water, medicine & other supplies in case you lose power,” DeSantis said on Twitter.
I’ve signed Executive Order 20-181, declaring a state of emergency for counties in the path of Hurricane #Isaias. For those living on the East Coast, prepare now. Have 7 days of food, water, medicine & other supplies in case you lose power. Follow @FLSERT for updates.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) July 31, 2020
Govs. Roy Cooper of North Carolina and Ralph Northam of Virginia also declared states of emergency on Friday in anticipation of the storm, which as of Saturday morning was moving northwest at 12 mph.
Hurricane Isaias, which is pronounced ees-ah-EE-ahs, broke the record for the earliest “I” named storm in the history of the Atlantic hurricane season. The 2020 season was anticipated to be, and has been, an active one. Two named storms developed before the season even started, and Tropical Storm Cristobal, which formed on the second day, became the earliest third named storm over the Atlantic Ocean.
Hurricane #Isaias is near Andros Island in the Bahamas. The hurricane is expected to approach the southeast Florida coast late today and on Sunday. Go to https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB for the latest info on #Isaias and https://t.co/SiZo8ohZMN for your local weather forecast. pic.twitter.com/vLj0Hwfnfc
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 1, 2020
