Hurricane Isaias (ees-ah-EE-ahs) tore through the Florida Panhandle Friday night, and two Floridians didn't make it through the storm. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected, and especially to the families of the two people who lost their lives.

Isaias came ashore near Destin around 9:30 p.m. Friday as a Category 2 with 105 mph winds, just hours after peaking as a Category 3. At the worst point, about 448,000 Florida homes and businesses lost power, including roughly 90% of Santa Rosa County, 85% of Walton, and 75% of Escambia. Winds ripped the roof off a hotel in Pensacola, destroyed the Milton High School gym, and peeled roofs off apartments in Milton and Gulf Breeze.

Both Florida deaths were in Escambia County. A woman was killed when a tree fell on her house. A man was found dead in his closed garage with a generator running, and four family members, including two small children, were rushed to the hospital. Please never run a generator inside a garage, even with the door cracked. Two more people died in Alabama. Thought and prayers to their families as well. 🙏🏼

DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 25 counties before landfall and had 16,000 utility workers staged and ready. By Saturday morning, I-10, U.S. 98, and every state bridge were back open. He's also warning that more rain is still coming to the Panhandle and Big Bend, and that flooding can hit a day or two after the storm passes, so stay out of standing water and treat every downed power line like it's live.

But the storm isn't the only thing Panhandle homeowners need to worry about right now. 👇🏼

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👉🏼 Every time a hurricane hits Florida, scammers show up right behind it. CFO Blaise Ingoglia just sent three disaster-fraud strike teams into the hardest-hit areas to go after them. Back in March, his office arrested a fake contractor who pocketed $174,000 from a family whose house burned down. He's facing up to 30 years in prison. Here's what to watch for.

Fake contractors. They knock on your door the morning after, point at your roof, and say they can start today if you pay a big deposit in cash. Some offer to cover your deductible, which is illegal in Florida. Some push you to sign paperwork that gives them control of your insurance money. Then they do half the job, or nothing at all, and disappear. Doing unlicensed contracting work during a declared emergency is a felony in Florida.

Debris removal scams. Someone offers to haul away your fallen trees for cash upfront, takes the money, and never comes back.

Fake insurance texts. Attorney General James Uthmeier says texts are already going out offering tree service "in coordination with your insurance company." They're fake. Call your insurance company yourself using the number on your policy.

Fake FEMA and government workers. Real FEMA help is always free. Nobody from the government will charge you a fee to apply or ask for your bank info at your door.

Fake charities. Scammers set up phony relief funds that sound legit. Only give to organizations you know.

Price gouging. Charging crazy prices for gas, water, lumber, tree removal, or roof repair during a state of emergency is illegal. Report it.

Looters. Whole neighborhoods are dark and families are staying somewhere else, which makes empty homes easy targets. If you see someone hauling stuff out of a house that isn't theirs, call 911.

To protect yourself, look up every contractor's license before they touch your house, get at least three written estimates, never pay in cash or the full amount upfront, and take pictures of all the damage before and after repairs.

If you need help or think you've been scammed:
Insurance claim help (Florida CFO): 1-877-693-5236
Insurance and contractor fraud (Florida CFO): 1-800-378-0445 or MyFloridaCFO.com/FraudFreeFlorida
Price gouging (Attorney General): 1-866-966-7226 or MyFloridaLegal.com
Check a contractor's license (DBPR): 850-487-1395 or MyFloridaLicense.com
Report an unlicensed contractor (DBPR): 1-866-532-1440
Disaster fraud (U.S. Department of Justice): 1-866-720-5721
Shelters, storm updates, and county emergency contacts: FloridaDisaster.org

Florida has been through this before, and we always come back stronger. If you're in the Panhandle, check on your neighbors, especially the elderly ones, because they're the first people these scammers go after. And if you know someone over there, forward this to them.

Grant Warrington
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