October 8, 2026, Atlanta, Ga. – Our thoughts are with everyone in the path of Hurricane Isaias along the Gulf Coast as they prepare for landfall either late Friday or Saturday morning. The National Hurricane Center’s forecast shows the greatest risk stretching from southeastern Louisiana through Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle.
Current projections indicate Isaias is likely to reach Category 2 strength, with maximum sustained winds near 110 mph. Heavy rainfall, flash flooding, storm surge, damaging winds, and isolated tornadoes threaten homes and livelihoods, and widespread power outages are likely. Experience shows that severe impacts can be felt far inland from where a storm makes landfall, so communities well beyond the coast should stay alert. We urge everyone in the storm’s path to follow guidance from local officials and evacuate early if instructed to do so. We are also sharing CARE’s hurricane and flooding tips to help keep families safe and prepared.
Disasters like this hit low-income women and families hardest. They often face the greatest barriers to staying safe during a storm and getting help afterward. Women and caregivers are usually the first responders in their households, and we know when they get the resources they need, families recover and communities are more resilient. That’s why CARE partners with local, women-led and grassroots organizations to meet those needs. They know their communities, they are trusted by the families who need help most, and they are on the ground before, during, and long after a storm.
CARE collaborates with communities year-round so that when disaster strikes, we’re ready and able to surge in support within hours. Ahead of Isaias’ landfall, we have already pre-positioned relief supplies with local partners – in areas projected to be impacted – that can be distributed within hours. We have CARE PACKAGE® hygiene kits that include essentials like soap, shampoo, toothbrushes and toothpaste, as well as CARE PACKAGE mother and baby kits that include baby hygiene items, feeding supplies, baby blankets and other necessities that families need most after disasters. CARE is also coordinating with state and local emergency coordination groups, including the Alabama and Louisiana Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOADs), the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, and Volunteer Florida to assess unmet needs for families.
CARE continues to monitor the storm’s path and, pending Isaias’ impact and community needs, we stand ready to support families with additional services which may include emergency cash assistance to families and grants to local organizations to support response and recovery.
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