Hurricane Isaias makes landfall in US causing thousands to lose power

Hurricane Isaias has made landfall in Florida, cutting power for thousands. The life-threatening hurricane hit the southwestern coast of the US with 110-mile-per-hour winds late on Friday. Florida, Alabama, and Georgia have all declared states of emergency as the storm - which weakened to a Category 1 hurricane - began to gust through the western panhandle of the Sunshine State. Florida authorities have urged residents to shelter in place. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Donald Trump said the White House was "watching it very closely" but believed it was "under control". Over 400,000 Floridians, more than 230,000 residents of Alabama, and around 25,000 households in Georgia were left without power as a result of the hurricane, as of early Saturday morning. Video from Destin, Florida, showed coastal flooding and massive wind speeds battering the panhandle city. Residents in southern states were pictured boarding up windows and filling up gas cannisters ahead of the storm's landfall. Florida Senator Rick Scott urged those directly in the aim of the storm evacuate as soon as possible, writing on social media: "DO NOT WAIT! Get out NOW!" Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said he had approved emergency declaration in Florida and Alabama to ensure federal resources were available. Governor of Alabama Kay Ivey issued a mandatory evacuation for all non-residents in key counties affected by the storm. Hurricane Isaias has become the first Atlantic hurricane of the season, which has largely been delayed due to a powerful El Nino in the South Pacific. ### LATEST US NEWS: - Ice agent shoots man in New York City with five-year-old in car - Pete Hegseth confirms execution of Fort Hood shooter by firing squad will be livestreamed - Texas carries out first execution in US since Christa Pike’s botched lethal injection Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis, after declaring states of emergencies in 25 counties, warned residents of the state to protect pets to avoid them from being swept up in the storm. He said: "You better treat them properly. If you don't, if you leave them in the path of a hurricane, you will be held accountable." Storm severity is frequently measured in southern states by the Waffle House index, named after a 24-hour diner chain. Craig Fugate, former administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Authority, coined the phrase in 2004, saying: "If you get there and the Waffle House is closed? That's really bad." A Waffle House spokesman confirmed it had closed a number of locations in the path of the hurricane and "will continue monitoring conditions". The President was also forced to abandon plans to attend a major college football game in Alabama over fears his presence would distract federal emergency workers from responding to the hurricane. Florida Senator Ashley Moody also urged those still in the state to shelter in place, warning that if you "leave now, first responders may not be able to save you". Two other storms are predicted to strike North America this weekend, with Hurricane Simon bearing down on the Pacific coast of Mexico, and Tropical Storm Rachel heading towards landfall on California's border with Mexico. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter