Usually, the worst damage is on the northeast side of the storm, as high winds and storm surge pound homes and businesses along the coast.
For Isaias, most of the damage was confined to Santa Rosa County, on the storm’s northwest side of the eyewall. “You see significant damage,” DeSantis said. “You see structural damages. You do see wind damage to roofs.”
Isaias made landfall in Destin on Oct. 9 as a strong Category 2 hurricane. Storm surge effects were less severe than feared, but wind shear disorganized the storm as it neared land, moving some of the strongest winds into Santa Rosa County.
The storm has been blamed for two deaths in Florida, both in Escambia County. County officials are not aware of any deaths in Santa Rosa County caused by the storm.
At the county’s request, DeSantis said Florida Department of Transportation crews will work alongside utility workers and county staff to clear city and county roads north of Milton to the Alabama line.
Across Florida, more than 300,000 customers are without power as of noon Sunday, and about 200,000 customers had their power restored, DeSantis said. About 240,000 of those are Florida Power & Light customers, and the utility expects to restore power to nearly all customers by Monday.
State officials are watching rising water on the Blackwater and Shoal rivers, particularly along U.S. 90 and Interstate 10, where flooding could affect roads over the next three days, he added.
As for schools, DeSantis said most area schools were already set to not have students Oct. 12. He said he expects most schools to open Wednesday, though some Santa Rosa County schools were damaged and will be checked on before students return.
“We’re not going to bring kids into an area if it’s not safe to be there,” he said.
About 5,000 Florida National Guard members have helped clear around 1,000 miles of roadway and helped 50 special-needs residents find help.
The state did not need to deploy air rescue teams, and 911 calls were lower than in past storms, he said.
DeSantis expects President Donald Trump to approve federal disaster assistance in the near future.
Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson said his department will offer emergency loans beginning Oct. 12, offering zero-interest loans of up to $500,000 to agricultural operations for repairs and cleanup.
