At least four people have died in connection with Isaias, including a Florida man killed by carbon monoxide from a generator running in his closed garage, and more than 170,000 customers across Florida were still without power Sunday night, according to CBS News, citing PowerOutage.us. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said 95% of Florida Power & Light outages should be restored by Monday night.

The shift from storm to cleanup changes the most important risks for families. Outage peaks have passed, but the generator death in Escambia County shows how quickly recovery can turn dangerous. Households still without power in the Florida Panhandle and southern Alabama now face decisions about backup power, spoiled food, damaged roofs and insurance claims.

Four Deaths Across Florida and Alabama

Two deaths occurred in Escambia County, Florida. Sheriff Chip Simmons said a woman died when a tree fell on her home, and a man was found dead in his closed garage with a generator running, the Associated Press reported. Four of his family members, ages 4 to 72, were taken to a hospital and were expected to survive.

In Alabama, a person died when a tree fell on a house in the Huffman area of Birmingham, the Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency said. A second Alabama death in Barbour County was attributed to a motor vehicle crash involving a downed tree, according to the state emergency management agency. Gov. Kay Ivey said in a social media post, "Fellow Alabamians, please continue being smart today as cleanup continues."

Outages peaked Saturday morning. PowerOutage.us data cited by CBS News showed more than 884,000 customers without power across Florida, Alabama and Georgia early Saturday, including about 430,000 in Florida and 326,000 in Alabama. By Sunday morning, roughly 389,000 customers remained out in the Florida Panhandle and southern Alabama, including 315,315 in Florida and 74,109 in Alabama. By Sunday night, Florida's count had dropped to just over 170,000.

Generator Safety and Outage Costs for Households

The Escambia County death is the clearest warning for the days ahead — and it is preventable. Portable generators produce carbon monoxide, an odorless gas that can build up quickly in garages, basements and enclosed spaces, even with a door partly open. Generators should run outdoors only, well away from doors, windows and vents, and every home using one should have working battery-powered carbon monoxide alarms.

Headaches, dizziness, nausea and confusion that improve after leaving the house can signal carbon monoxide exposure. Anyone with those symptoms should get to fresh air immediately and call 911. Several family members falling ill at once is an especially urgent sign.

Outages also bring practical costs — some of them hidden. Refrigerated food that has been without power for an extended period may need to be thrown out, and families relying on electric medical equipment should contact their utility and local emergency managers about priority restoration or shelter options. Anyone who sees a downed line should stay away and report it to the utility rather than trying to move debris near it.

Damage claims are the next hurdle. CBS News reported roofs torn from homes and apartments in Gulf Breeze, Milton and East Milton, Florida, and the AP reported a hotel roof blown off in Pensacola. Homeowners should photograph damage before cleanup, keep receipts for emergency repairs, and contact insurers promptly. Standard homeowners policies generally do not cover flood damage, which typically requires separate flood insurance.

Federal Declarations and a Strategic Petroleum Reserve Exchange

The federal response widened over the weekend. President Donald Trump approved emergency declarations for Florida and Alabama before landfall and added Georgia on Saturday, FEMA announced, according to CBS News. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said Sunday that governors were "in good shape" and that FEMA had pre-positioned assets in affected states.

The storm also reached household fuel supplies indirectly. The U.S. Department of Energy authorized an emergency exchange of up to 4 million barrels of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, with up to 2 million barrels each for ExxonMobil and BP America, to address supply disruptions in the Gulf. Some reports described the volume in gallons, but the department's announcement specifies barrels. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the move aims "to help maintain refinery operations, limit disruptions to fuel supplies" for families and businesses.

Under the exchange, companies must return the oil with additional premium barrels in 2027. Whether the storm moves gasoline prices at the pump has not been measured, and the department did not estimate a price effect.

Flood risk also followed the storm's remnants inland. North Carolina Emergency Management reported flood sirens activated in the Chimney Rock area, a community devastated by Hurricane Helene in 2024, and some landslides overnight into Sunday. The Weather Prediction Center's final advisory on Sunday warned of an additional 1 to 3 inches of rain and possible flash flooding across the Central Appalachians and Mid-Atlantic, with flood watches in parts of the Central and Southern Appalachians.

From Landfall Warnings to Recovery

Nature World News previously reported on the hurricane warnings that stretched from Mobile to Panama City on Oct. 9, when Isaias was a Category 2 storm in the Gulf and forecasters warned residents to prepare for long-duration power outages. That warning proved accurate. Isaias made landfall near Destin, Florida, around 8 p.m. EDT Friday as a Category 2 hurricane, then weakened to a post-tropical cyclone by early Saturday.

Several questions remain open. Officials have not released a full count of damaged homes, and restoration timelines for Alabama customers and for Florida customers outside Florida Power & Light territory have not been as clearly stated. It is also not yet known whether the federal emergency declarations will be followed by major disaster declarations that open individual assistance for households.

Residents should follow instructions from county emergency management offices, avoid flooded roads and downed lines, and check utility outage maps for restoration estimates. Nature World News will update this story as utilities report progress and as federal agencies announce additional aid.

The bottom line is that the wind threat from Isaias has ended, but recovery risks have not. The safest steps now are using generators outdoors only, staying clear of downed lines, documenting damage for insurance, and relying on local officials for restoration and assistance updates.

What Readers Want to Know

How many people died because of Isaias?

At least four deaths have been linked to the storm, two in Escambia County, Florida, and two in Alabama, in Birmingham and Barbour County.

How many people are still without power?

More than 170,000 customers in Florida remained without power Sunday night, according to PowerOutage.us data cited by CBS News, down from a regional peak of more than 884,000 on Saturday morning.

When will power be restored?

Gov. Ron DeSantis said 95% of Florida Power & Light outages should be restored by Monday night. Customers of other utilities should check their provider's outage map.

How can I use a generator safely?

Run it outdoors only, far from doors, windows, and vents; never in a garage or basement; and use battery-powered carbon monoxide alarms inside the home.

Is federal aid available?

Emergency declarations were approved for Florida, Alabama, and Georgia. Households should watch FEMA and state announcements to see whether individual assistance becomes available.

Is Isaias still a threat?

The Weather Prediction Center issued its final advisory Sunday morning. Flash flooding remained possible in parts of the Central Appalachians and Mid-Atlantic.