Hurricane Isaias approaches Gulf coast as Fema operates after staff cuts

Hurricane Isaias, the first Atlantic hurricane of 2026, is expected to make landfall on the US Gulf coast late Friday or early Saturday.

• Isaias has strengthened over the Gulf of Mexico with sustained winds near 80 mph, and hurricane warnings cover parts of the region.
• Governors of Florida, Georgia and Alabama declared states of emergency for counties projected to be affected by the storm.
• Fema said it is deploying incident management assistance teams to Florida and Alabama and prepositioning supplies at Maxwell air force base in Montgomery.
• A federal judge ruled last month that the Trump administration's plan to cut Fema staff by 50% was unlawful.
• Isaias strengthened into a category three major hurricane, the first of the Atlantic season, with sustained winds reaching 120 mph.
• Forecasters said Isaias is expected to make landfall between the Alabama coast and Choctawhatchee Bay in Florida.
• Emergency officials ordered mandatory evacuations in several coastal counties along the storm's projected path.
• Florida Governor Ron DeSantis requested an emergency declaration from President Trump for the state.