Ron DeSantis and Kay Ivey are right to prepare for Isaias

By Daniel Okafor · Reporting from New York · October 9, 2026

As Hurricane Isaias brings winds and surge to the Gulf Coast, the evacuation orders from state leaders are the only way to prevent disaster.

Ron DeSantis and Kay Ivey are right to treat Hurricane Isaias as a catastrophe in the making. The storm is a Category 2 hurricane. It carries winds of 105 mph. CNN said the National Hurricane Center expects the storm to briefly become a major hurricane on Friday. The National Hurricane Center said the storm will be dangerous when it makes landfall.

The facts of the storm demand this urgency. Isaias is expected to bring up to 7 feet of storm surge. It may drop up to 15 inches of rain. These figures are not possibilities; they are the consequences of a storm moving toward the Panhandle. Governor Ron DeSantis has already declared a state of emergency in Florida counties.

The cost of staying

Orders to evacuate are not suggestions. In Okaloosa County, mandatory evacuations began Thursday at noon for zones A and B. This includes Okaloosa Island and parts of coastal Fort Walton Beach. It also covers Destin, Mary Esther, and Niceville. Fox 10 News said visitors were told to leave the area immediately.

The state prepares for those who have nowhere else to go. Davidson Middle School in Crestview opened at 6 p.m. Thursday as a shelter. Raider Arena at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville opened at the same time. These are not hotels. Shelter guests must bring their own identification, food, prescriptions, and blankets.

In Escambia County, the orders for zones A and B began Thursday at noon. The Pensacola Bay Center opened at 3 p.m. Thursday. The Marie K. Young-Wedgewood Community Center opened for those with special needs. Public Works inspected county ponds and drained them to prevent flooding.

Escaping is difficult. ECAT resumes free transportation at 6 a.m. Friday. In Santa Rosa County, the Clyde L. Gracey Community Center serves as a shelter. Pets must be in carriers with proof of vaccinations. Owners must bring food, water, leashes, and litter boxes. The shelters do not provide meals.

Preparing at this level is the only way to avoid a body count. Jennifer Parnell said the Flora-Bama bar has been part of the community for more than 60 years. She said being prepared is key. In Mobile, Alabama, residents spent Oct. 8 filling sandbags at the James Seals Jr. Parks & Recreation Center.

Why does October bring danger?

This storm warns us by its timing. Isaias is the first Atlantic hurricane of the season. It is also the latest hurricane on record. It nearly tied a mark set on 1905. An El Nino weather pattern increased wind shear, which suppressed development earlier in the year. Now, pressure from the Atlantic guides the storm toward the coast.

This storm follows the mechanism of Hurricane Michael. Both are October hurricanes that strike the Florida Panhandle. Both force evacuations and preparations. Hurricane Michael was the most intense hurricane on record to strike the United States in October. The history of the region proves that storms can destroy.

The current mobilization mirrors the scale of previous disasters. Evacuating coastal zones matches the strategy used during Hurricane Irma. Governor Ron DeSantis mobilized the Florida National Guard, the Florida Division of Emergency Management, and the Florida Highway Patrol. He expects to have approximately 5,000 troops mobilized.

Federal agencies coordinate resources in a way that matches Hurricane Sandy. Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the Federal Emergency Management Agency and DHS are monitoring the storm. The surge and evacuations in the Gulf Coast region mirror the scale of Hurricane Katrina.

Some may argue that the evacuations are too broad. ABC News said Isaias may weaken to a Category 1 hurricane before it makes landfall. They might suggest that the state is overreacting to a storm that will lose strength.

This argument ignores the reality of the Gulf. The National Hurricane Center forecast that Isaias could reach Category 3 strength before landfall. A false alarm costs residents a few days of displacement. A mistake costs a thousand lives. The record of Hurricane Michael proves that October storms can intensify rapidly.

The wreckage is inevitable

The storm is already showing its strength. Free Malaysia Today said Isaias had winds early Thursday. It was moving east-northeast. At that time, it was south of the mouth of the Mississippi River.

The impact will be felt far beyond the beach. Forecasters predicted storm surges in the hardest-hit areas, and rainfall is expected to reach inland. These volumes of water will turn roads into rivers.

Governor Kay Ivey declared a state of emergency for 40 Alabama counties. She issued mandatory evacuations for non-residents in Baldwin County south of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. This includes Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. She also ordered non-residents to leave Dauphin Island in Mobile County.

The state prepares for the aftermath. Governor Ron DeSantis has more than 6,000 utility linemen and restoration personnel ready to respond. They will be needed. The wind field of Isaias will likely generate power outages across the interior Southeast.

The facts support a grim verdict. Combining 7 feet of surge with 15 inches of rain will cause severe flooding. This matches the pattern of Hurricane Ian. The emergency declarations across Alabama and Florida counties are not political theater. They are the only way to protect a population that lives on the edge of the water. The state governments are not overreacting; they are reacting to the only evidence that matters.

Ron DeSantis and Kay Ivey are right to prepare for Isaias

The cost of staying

Why does October bring danger?

The wreckage is inevitable

Sources