Hurricane Isaias hit Florida with incredible force, making landfall in the Panhandle and leaving over 420,000 residents without power late Friday into Saturday morning, as reported by Lt. Gov. Jay Collins.
“This storm struck like a freight train. It was swift. Came in hard, like a Mike Tyson punch,” Collins mentioned during an interview on Friday night. “It’s very real. I’m confident we’re going to see serious damage.”
He noted that about 900,000 people followed evacuation orders before Isaias made landfall near Destin, where it was classified as a Category 2 storm.
“Some folks might have decided to stay, but if you did, please stay safe, hunker down. We shouldn’t put our first responders at risk. They will reach you as quickly as they can, but let’s allow them to focus on their jobs,” he urged.
By around 10:30 p.m., Isaias had been downgraded to a Category 1 storm, bringing maximum wind speeds of 90 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
“I don’t believe we’re facing something like what occurred with Michael. This time, it seems like it will just bring pockets of rain, thankfully,” Collins said, referencing the devastating Category 5 hurricane that impacted the Florida Panhandle back in October 2018.
Initial reports didn’t indicate any catastrophic damage, but Collins cautioned that the storm was still a concern.
“As the storm crested and hit the shore, we should start receiving more information about the actual extent of the damage,” he explained. “At this point, we’re not hearing anything too alarming, and hopefully, that continues.”
Collins, who assumed office in August 2025, stated that the only issues reported so far were power outages and some radio damage.
As of 2 a.m. Saturday, approximately 425,000 people in Florida were without electricity, according to the tracker PowerOutage.US.
“We really pushed for people to heed the evacuation orders; the risk isn’t worth it to you or your family,” Collins said. “You have to listen, take charge, and you’ll come out of this okay. It’s really that straightforward.”
He praised the efforts of his administration alongside Gov. Ron DeSantis in preparing the state for the storm.
“We’ve taken charge. Ensuring a strong response has been our priority,” he stated.
Collins reported that more than 5,000 National Guard troops and 400 state guard members were prepared for assisting the recovery efforts.
Additionally, over 6,000 utility workers were on standby to address power outages in the Panhandle.
“It’s crucial to remind everyone that even after the storm passes, the danger isn’t over,” he advised. “Stay away from flooded areas, and be cautious about power lines. Safety first.”
