Hurricane Isaias Lashes Bahamas While Florida Battens Down

Hurricane Isaias ripped shingles off roofs and blew over trees as it carved its way through the Bahamas early Saturday and headed toward the Florida coast, where officials in Miami said they were closing beaches, marinas and parks.

SAN JUAN:

Miami Mayor Carlos Gim nez said Friday that 20 evacuation centers were on standby that could be set up with COVID-19 safety measures.

We still don’t think there is a need to open shelters for this storm, but they are ready, he said. Authorities in North Carolina ordered the evacuation of Oracoke Island, which was slammed by last year’s Hurricane Dorian, starting Saturday evening.

Meanwhile, officials in the Bahamas evacuated people on Abaco island, who have been living in temporary structures since Dorian. People living in the eastern end of Grand Bahama were also being moved.