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Trump Approves Emergency Aid After Isaias Power Outages

By Drooid · Oct 11, 2026, 10:32 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Isaias Strikes Panhandle

Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin, Florida, as a Category 2 storm with 105 mph winds.
The storm caused at least four deaths, two in Florida and two in Alabama.
Power outages affected roughly 750,000 customers across Florida, Alabama and Georgia.
President Donald Trump approved federal emergency assistance for Florida.
Tornado warnings were issued for the Florida Panhandle, Georgia and the Carolinas.

Summary

Trump Declares Georgia Emergency

U.S. Energy Department authorized emergency crude oil exchanges from the strategic petroleum reserve after storm disruptions.
President Donald Trump declared a Georgia emergency, unlocking federal flood-response aid.
Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson urged residents to avoid the peninsula while crews readied 11,000 sandbags.
Approximately 396,000 customers lacked power across the Florida Panhandle and southern Alabama on Sunday.

History

Historical Context

In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast states of Louisiana and Mississippi, killing over 1,800 people and causing $125 billion in damages. FEMA, under Administrator R. Cindy McCain and the Department of Homeland Security, deployed 20,000 personnel and delivered 3 million gallons of water, costing $10 billion in relief. Like Katrina’s federal emergency declarations, today’s Hurricane Isaias prompted President Donald Trump to activate FEMA and release Strategic Petroleum Reserve oil. The 2005 response highlighted the need for pre-positioned sandbags and power-grid resilience, shaping current mitigation plans across Florida, Georgia, and Alabama.

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Isaias Strikes Panhandle

Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin, Florida, as a Category 2 storm with 105 mph winds.
The storm caused at least four deaths, two in Florida and two in Alabama.
Power outages affected roughly 750,000 customers across Florida, Alabama and Georgia.
President Donald Trump approved federal emergency assistance for Florida.
Tornado warnings were issued for the Florida Panhandle, Georgia and the Carolinas.

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