Hurricane Isaias

Hurricane Isaias has been downgraded to a tropical storm again after making landfall near Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, according to an official with the National Hurricane Center.

Gov. Ron DeSantis said emergency response officials are planning for what will likely be a busy hurricane season in Florida.

Isaias is forecast to regain hurricane strength and strike land in the next few hours in the Carolinas. Coastal dwellers in the projected path of the storm braced for possible flooding rain and storm surge.

Gov. Ron DeSantis says federal funds have been approved to reimburse the state for potential impacts from Hurricane Isaias.

Hurricane Isaías is now expected to move directly toward Florida's East Coast Saturday night, producing hurricane force winds and a life-threatening storm surge along portions of the Treasure and Space Coasts.

Hurricane Isaias is over the northern Andros Island in the Bahamas with top winds of 80 mph as of the latest update from the National Hurricane Center.

Isaias attained hurricane status early Friday morning and it is poised to make a close pass at the Southeast U.S. coastline this weekend and early next week.

Orange County mayor Jerry Demings says there are plenty of hotel rooms available if people need to evacuate from the coast as Hurricane Isaias approaches.