Hurricane Isaias will bring storm surge and flooding to Florida

Florida officials are stepping up emergency preparations as Hurricane Isaias approaches the northern Gulf Coast, threatening the Panhandle with dangerous winds, storm surge, flooding and possible tornadoes. The National Hurricane Center reported maximum sustained winds of 120 mph at 11 a.m. CDT Friday, Oct. 9.Evacuation orders are in effect for parts of several Panhandle and North Florida counties, including zones, islands, and low-lying areas. Officials urge residents to evacuate before conditions worsen.Residents are also being urged to fill their vehicle gas tanks, stock water and nonperishable food for several days, and prepare for power outages. State officials expect impacts across much of the Panhandle, including inland flooding in areas already saturated by recent rainfall.The National Hurricane Center warned of life-threatening storm surge and devastating winds along the Florida Panhandle and Alabama coasts. State officials cautioned that dangerous conditions could extend east