Deadly Hurricane Isaias claims its first victims as terrifying video shows moment tree crushes emergency worker: Live updates

The southeast has been ravaged by Hurricane Isaias, as fallen trees have struck and killed four individuals and left others injured, with shocking video footage showing an emergency worker hit by a ginormous branch on the job. 

The monster storm slammed into the Florida Panhandle near Destin at around 8.30pm as a Category two hurricane, packing maximum sustained winds of 105mph. Just 30 minutes later, its winds had fallen to 85mph, but the storm continued to wreak havoc along the Gulf Coast.

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on Saturday morning that there was one fatality after a tree fell on a woman’s home. The sheriff announced a second death later in the day after emergency responders found an individual dead in their garage from carbon monoxide poisoning from operating a generator indoors. 

In Birmingham, Alabama, emergency responders rushed to a home after reports that a tree had trapped a woman. ‘This storm brought in heavy winds throughout Alabama, taking down trees, knocking out power and doing some damage,’ Governor Kay Ivey said, adding that two residents had tragically died.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said in a Saturday morning update that the storm did not reach Category 3 as anticipated, and search-and-rescue teams have not yet been deployed, but he warned that flooding and damage could cause injuries or deaths. 

As crews descended on the streets on Friday, a deputy with the Dale County Sheriff’s Department was injured by a rogue tree. The department said the deputy was treated for minor injuries and is back home with family.

Shocking video footage of the injury showed emergency responders and deputies crowding around a vehicle on a street before the tree came out of nowhere and crushed the car, striking the deputy.  

‘There tends to be injuries and, unfortunately, deaths in the days after [a significant storm],’ DeSantis said. He advised residents to stay off the streets, avoid downed power lines and report flooding to local authorities.

Roads in Destin flooded, while in nearby Pensacola, police warned residents to stay off the streets because debris covered the roadways. Floridians posted pictures online of downed trees and power lines, and one social media video showed the harrowing moments a roof was ripped off an inn. 

In the overnight hours on Saturday, the storm downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone. The storm has disrupted travel plans nationwide, with nearly 300 flights canceled and more than 800 delayed. 

Eglin AFB/Destin-Ft Walton Beach International Airport and Pensacola International each saw over 80 per cent of flights canceled on Saturday. 

Florida has been hit hardest by power outages, leaving over 420,000 homes in the dark, while more than 217,000 were left without power in Alabama. 

Over 58,00 homes were without power in Georgia and 13,00 in California, according to the live power outage tracker, PowerOutage.us. Nationwide outages on Saturday afternoon were 774,000, down from over 900,000 in the morning.