SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Oct. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Isaias has strengthened into the first hurricane of 2026 in the Atlantic and is approaching the U.S. Gulf Coast. Leading disaster recovery organization, Convoy of Hope, is prepared to immediately respond after landfall.

According to the National Hurricane Center, the storm is expected to bring damaging winds, life-threatening storm surge and heavy rainfall to communities from Bay St. Louis, Miss., to Indian Pass on the Florida Panhandle. Forecasters predict the dangerous storm surge could affect an even wider area.

Alabama and Florida have both declared a state of emergency spanning 65 counties and urged residents to take immediate precautions.

Convoy of Hope has mobilized and deployed their disaster response teams by staging trucks, heavy equipment and essential relief aid and supplies at their regional distribution center in Atlanta.

“There’s a lot of activity now, getting trucks ready, filling them with the supplies that we’ll be taking,” said Ethan Forhetz, Vice President of Convoy of Hope. “As the hurricane moves up and through the region, Convoy of Hope teams will come in directly behind it and begin delivering aid to people in need.”

Convoy of Hope trucks are loaded with essential relief items, such as cleaning supplies, fresh drinking water, hygiene kits, baby items, imperishable food and other resources to help communities in the aftermath of recovery.

During major hurricane deployments, Convoy of Hope dispatches fleets of up to 22 specialized vehicles, including mobile kitchens, shower trailers and bunk housing units. By operating self-sufficient mobile base camps, relief teams can provide essential services without consuming scarce local resources like power, water or shelter space in the affected communities.

Forhetz is on the ground there and available for interviews to provide firsthand updates on weather conditions and how Convoy of Hope is providing relief and bringing hope to those in the path of the storm.

Isaias will be the first hurricane to make landfall in the contiguous U.S. since Hurricane Milton in October 2024.

Convoy of Hope is a global, faith-based organization that serves vulnerable communities. Since its founding in 1994, the organization has served 350 million people and counting. Convoy of Hope has responded to many hurricanes that hit this region in the past, including Charley and Jeanne (2004), Katrina (2005), Irma (2017), Michael (2018), Laura (2020), Ida (2021), Nicholas (2021), Ian (2022), Helene (2024) and Milton (2024). Visit convoyofhope.org to learn more.

Media Contact: Press@convoyofhope.org

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/convoy-of-hope-responding-as-hurricane-isaias-approaches-gulf-coast-302903575.html

SOURCE Convoy of Hope