Hurricane Isaias Community Brief: Damage Assessment and Recovery
Leon County Government worked around the clock to monitor Hurricane Isaias, which made landfall near Destin late Friday evening and has since weakened to a post-tropical storm moving north, away from our region. Leon County weathered the storm well, and initial reports are encouraging. County crews responded quickly to downed tree calls overnight, and road impacts have been very limited. The County thanks residents for their preparedness, cooperation and support throughout the storm, as County staff and emergency response partners worked to protect the health and safety of our community.
"Leon County's emergency response crews worked through the night to clear roads, monitor flooding and keep the community informed," said Leon County Commission Chairman Christian Caban. "We could not have done it without the preparedness of our residents. Thank you for heeding the travel advisory and staying off the roads, which gave our crews room to work and helps speed our recovery. We encourage everyone to continue reporting damage and checking on neighbors as our community returns to normal."
Damage assessment teams are in the field today documenting impacts to homes and property, and Public Works crews continue clearing roads and rechecking low-lying areas. These early numbers may change as assessments continue. Residents can report storm damage using the Property Damage Assessment Form at LeonCountyFL.gov/ei. As County services return to normal operations, Leon County remains committed to keeping residents informed, addressing storm impacts and providing essential services.
"Although the greatest impacts of the storm remained west of our region, Leon County staff remained vigilant, monitoring conditions and responding quickly and efficiently to reported damage," said Leon County Administrator Vincent S. Long. "Our community's preparedness played an important role in helping residents navigate the storm safely. As recovery efforts continue, we encourage residents to remain vigilant and take advantage of the post-storm resources and information available to them."
Key response efforts included:
More than 20,000 sandbags distributed at County sandbag sites to help residents prepare for potential flooding.
More than 40 tree cut-and-toss operations by County crews throughout the night to help clear roadways and support safe travel.
More than 200 calls answered through the Citizens Information Line, connecting residents with information and assistance throughout the storm response.
Storm Update
Landfall: Isaias made landfall near Destin at about 9:30 p.m. Friday as a Category 2 hurricane with 105 mph winds. It weakened overnight and is now a post-tropical storm moving north, away from our region.
Watches and warnings: All hurricane, tropical storm and storm surge warnings have been canceled, and Leon County is no longer under a Flash Flood Warning or a Tornado Watch. A Flood Warning remains in effect for Leon County and surrounding areas through Monday.
Overnight impacts: Through late Friday evening, the National Weather Service reported a peak gust of 52 mph at Tallahassee International Airport, about 4 inches of rain in six hours in Killearn and about 3 inches elsewhere in the county. No Tornado Warnings were issued for Leon County.
Today: The National Weather Service expects another 1 to 1.5 inches of rain in Tallahassee today. Gusts of 25 to 30 mph could bring down trees and limbs weakened overnight, and scattered storms with damaging wind gusts and a couple of tornadoes are possible across parts of southwest Georgia and the Big Bend into this evening.
Week ahead: Dry weather is expected Sunday through Friday, with highs in the mid-80s to near 90.
Property Damage Assessment Form
Leon County has activated the Property Damage Assessment Form to measure the impact of Hurricane Isaias in Leon County. To document damage to your property, fill out the form at LeonCountyFL.gov/ei.
Post-Storm Safety
Turn around, don't drown: The National Weather Service notes that more than half of all flood-related drownings happen when a vehicle is driven into flood water, and 12 inches of rushing water can carry away most cars. Never drive or walk into flood water.
Flood water safety: Avoid skin contact with flood water, especially if you have open cuts or wounds. Avoid eating, drinking or touching anything contaminated by flood water.
Know the water risks: Ditches, creeks, retention ponds and storm drains can carry fast-moving water. Keep children and pets away.
Generators: Use generators only outdoors, at least 20 feet from the home.
Cleanup: Pace yourself in the heat, take breaks and drink plenty of water.
Power outages: Report outages to City of Tallahassee Utilities at Talgov.com/Outages or through the DigiTally app, or to Talquin Electric.
State, Federal and Local Actions
Federal emergency declaration: President Donald Trump approved Florida's request for federal emergency assistance for 27 counties, including Leon County. The declaration authorizes FEMA to provide direct federal assistance for emergency protective measures.
Local state of emergency: Leon County's local state of emergency took effect at 5 p.m. Thursday and remains in effect through 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, unless extended. It aligns with Gov. Ron DeSantis' Executive Order 26-202, as amended by Executive Order 26-211, which covers 27 Florida counties, including Leon County.
Emergency Operations Center: The County's EOC remains activated to coordinate recovery with State, local and nonprofit partners.
Sheltering: Based on initial reports, a post-storm host shelter is not needed at this time. The County will continue to coordinate with the State and the American Red Cross if needs change.
Environmental health: The Florida Department of Health in Leon County will follow up with residents in areas that commonly flood and check community and private wells with known issues. Residents with well questions can call 850-895-8360.
County Service and Event Updates
As Leon County continues recovery efforts following Hurricane Isaias, County services and facilities are reopening on a phased schedule to keep residents and employees safe while essential services remain available. Residents are encouraged to review the following schedule for facility reopenings, service changes and event updates.
Reopening: Libraries and Rural Waste Service Centers reopened on their normal hours today, Oct. 10. Community centers and campground reservations resume Sunday, Oct. 11, and all County offices and outdoor activities resume normal hours Monday, Oct. 12.
Canceled: Today's cross country meet at Apalachee Regional Park and the Jubilee Music Festival at The Adderley Amphitheater have been canceled.
Rescheduled: Today's Volunteer Fire Truck Round Up has been rescheduled to Saturday, Nov. 14, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Tom Brown Park.
Stay Informed
To stay up to date on Leon County preparedness and response, use the following resources:
LeonReady.com: The Leon Ready website is a hub of resources to help you, your family and your neighborhood prepare for disasters, including the County's Disaster Survival Guide and a full list of supplies for your disaster bucket.
Citizens Connect mobile app: Get emergency push notifications on your smartphone and be the first to know about shelter locations, road closures and service changes. Download it from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Emergency Information Portal: Hosting the same information as the Citizens Connect app, the Emergency Information Portal can be accessed on a desktop or a mobile browser by visiting LeonCountyFL.gov/ei.
Road closures: County roads at LeonCountyFL.gov/ei and state roads at FL511.com.
88.9 WFSU-FM: Tune in for the most up-to-date information from local public safety officials. WFSU, Leon County and the City of Tallahassee remain committed to getting information out on the radio as soon as possible.
iHeartRadio: Updates on WFLA-FM 100.7, WFLF-FM 94.5, WTNT 94.9, KISS-FM 107.1, X-FM 101.5 and The Beat-FM 105.3.
Lifeline Connection (formerly 2-1-1 Big Bend): For community information, services and support around the clock, dial 2-1-1 or 850-617-6333.
Leon County Citizens Information Line: Call 850-606-3700 with questions about the storm.
City of Tallahassee: For updates on City of Tallahassee Utilities and other City services, visit Talgov.com.
Insurance Consumer Helpline: Insurance specialists with the Florida Department of Financial Services answer questions about coverage and advocate for consumers in disputes with insurance companies. Call 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (693-5236) toll-free, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Price gouging: During a state of emergency, it is unlawful to sell or lease certain commodities for an amount that grossly exceeds the average price. To report price gouging, call 1-866-966-7226.
Once you and your family are settled, check on your neighbors by phone, especially older adults and people who live alone. Neighborhoods that look out for one another create strong support networks that are vital to a speedy recovery.
Leon County will share updates as recovery efforts continue. For current information, visit LeonCountyFL.gov/ei.
For media inquiries, contact Leon County Community and Media Relations at 850-606-5300 or CMR@LeonCountyFL.gov.
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