Isaias strengthens into a hurricane as it continues moving toward Gulf Coast

Hurricane Isaias has intensified into a Category 1 storm with winds of 75 mph, marking the first Atlantic hurricane of the season. It is expected to hit the Florida Panhandle late Friday night. The National Hurricane Center has issued hurricane warnings from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to the Bay-Gulf County Line in Florida. Both Florida and Alabama have declared states of emergency. The storm could bring 3 to 7 inches of rain, with some areas seeing up to 15 inches, and storm surges up to 7 feet. As Isaias moves inland, it will weaken but still cause significant rainfall and potential flooding in Mississippi and Alabama. QUESTION: How might communities better prepare for future hurricanes to minimize damage and ensure safety?