Bracing For Hurricane Isaias, Ukraine Pushes Russia Back, Iran War Impact On Midterms

Michel Martin (0:02)

Mandatory evacuations are underway in parts of the Florida Panhandle. Much of the Gulf Coast is preparing for Hurricane Issaiz to make landfall.

Steve Inskeep (0:10)

The storm has been gaining strength, so how dangerous could it be?

Michel Martin (0:13)

I'm Michelle Martin, that's Steve Inskeep, and this is Up First from NPR News.

Ukraine is taking back land from Russia. Its latest offensive is named Operation Vivaldi. It's become almost impossible to survive on the front line, so the movement is built around drones and ground robots.

Steve Inskeep (0:32)

Also, President Trump said in writing that he will not attack Iran at all before the midterms. He explicitly linked his decisions about the unpopular war to an election where his party is on the defensive. How, if at all, can Republicans use that promise? Stay with us. We've got the news you need to start your day.

As soon as tonight, people along the Gulf Coast find out how their hurricane preparations hold up.

Michel Martin (1:02)

That's because Hurricane Issaiz is forecast to make landfall on that coast. The first hurricane of the season is south of Mobile, Alabama with several states in its possible path.

Steve Inskeep (1:11)

NPR's Debbie Elliott is waiting in Crestview, which is in the Florida panhandle. Debbie, good morning.

Debbie Elliott (1:17)

Morning.

Steve Inskeep (1:17)

What's the storm doing now?

Debbie Elliott (1:19)

You know, it's been rapidly getting stronger because of those very warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico over the last couple of days. And forecasters with the National Hurricane Center are saying this could be a very dangerous hurricane when it makes landfall, potentially with winds topping 100 miles an hour, life-threatening storm surge somewhere between five and seven feet. It's also gonna dump a lot of rain up to 15 inches in some places.

The cone of possibility right now for landfall seems to be narrowing in right along the Alabama-Florida state line. But impacts are gonna be possible all the way from Louisiana over to the Big Bend area of Florida.

Steve Inskeep (1:56)

How are people preparing in that cone?

Debbie Elliott (1:59)

Well, local officials have ordered some evacuations in coastal communities here in the Florida Panhandle and shelters have been opened. Alabama ordered tourists to leave the beaches ahead of the storm. Highways in and out of the region were very busy yesterday with both people leaving and emergency crews getting ready to come to the coast. I passed several National Guard convoys, some search and rescue boats that were coming up from South Florida, lots of those big bucket trucks that they used to repair power lines.

States typically pre-stage all kinds of emergency equipment, the helicopters, generators, high water vehicles that they'll use for rescues if needed. Also supplies like food and water that can be distributed, you know, expecting prolonged power outages. Governor Ron DeSantis in Florida urged people to stay vigilant.

Ron DeSantis (2:50)

Please be on the lookout. Even if you're outside the cone, you could still have tornado risks. And so I would just say over these next couple days, just be very attuned to the surroundings and the weather.

Steve Inskeep (3:04)

Debbie, I just want to note the timing. Hurricanes are traditionally a late summer thing. This is pretty late for the first hurricane of the season.

Debbie Elliott (3:11)

This is very late to get the very first hurricane of a season. We thought we had escaped the worst this year because of the prominent El Nino weather pattern that's going on. That typically hinders development of tropical cyclones in the Atlantic basin. But here we are. Now schools and government offices closing. A lot of fall festivals had to be canceled, like the National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama. That's a big economic blow.

Also, a good bit of the offshore oil and gas production in the Gulf has been curtailed. As for residents, folks along the coast do know the drill. Sandbagging, boarding up the windows, or putting down the hurricane shutters, getting boats to safe harbor or high land. We're seeing a lot of that. Hannah Atkins made a last-minute run to Lowe's just north of Pensacola yesterday with her three young children.

Hannah Atkins (3:58)

We've definitely got gas for the generator. We've put all our patio furniture up, weighted it down. I just came into Lowe's to get stuff to tie down everything with our chicken coop so it doesn't blow away.

But yeah, we've gotten food in the car already. Just picked it up from Publix and gonna go home and not waste any more gas on the road.

Debbie Elliott (4:21)

Definitely don't want the chickens blowing around. So people will be hunkering down in earnest today.