Hurricane Isaias continued to surge towards the Gulf Coast on Thursday, prompting multiple cities and counties in Mississippi to declare states of emergency as residents prepare for the hurricane to bring strong winds and a life-threatening storm surge to the coast. 

Isaias strengthened into the first hurricane of the Atlantic season late Wednesday night and as of Friday was nearing the Gulf Coast as a Category 3 hurricane, the National Hurricane Center reports. Forecasters expected the storm to make landfall late Friday or early Saturday. Here are some photos of residents across the Gulf Coast preparing ahead of the storm on Oct. 8. 

For more information on how to prepare ahead of Hurricane Isaias, check out the Mississippi Free Press’ guide. 

Three people shovel sand from a large pile into small bags before a storm
Residents of Biloxi fill up sandbags ahead of Hurricane Isaias at 195 Main St. in Biloxi, Miss., on Oct. 8, 2026. MFP Photo by Amy Schafer
Three people shovel sand from a large pile into small bags before a storm
Residents of Ocean Springs fill up sandbags and load them into their cars ahead of Hurricane Isaias at the Public Works Department on 712 A Pine Drive in Ocean Springs, Miss., on Oct. 8,2026. MFP Photo by Amy Schafer
A man ties down his boat in a marina ahead of an oncoming hurricane
A man secures his boat at Ocean Springs Harbor ahead of Hurricane Isaias in Ocean Springs, Miss., on Oct. 8, 2026. MFP Photo by Amy Schafer
Two people scoop up sand from a large pile into small bags before a storm
A father and son fill bags with sand at 195 Main St. in Biloxi, Miss., on Oct. 8, 2026 as they prepare for Hurricane Isaias to hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast. MFP Photo by Amy Schafer
Two people shovel sand from a large pile small bags before a storm
Two residents of Ocean Springs shovel sand into bags as they prepare for Hurricane Isaias at the Public Works Department on 712 A Pine Drive in Ocean Springs, Miss., on Oct. 8, 2026. MFP Photo by Amy Schafer
A man ties down his boat labeled "Windy" in a marina ahead of an oncoming hurricane
Residents tie down their boats at Ocean Springs Harbor ahead of Hurricane Isaias in Ocean Springs, Miss., on Oct. 8, 2026. MFP Photo by Amy Schafer
A woman shovels sand from a large pile into small bags before a storm as two children help
Residents of D’Iberville gather at the D’Iberville Work Center on 10085 Doris Deno Ave. in D’Iberville, Miss., on Oct. 8, 2026 to get sandbags ahead of Hurricane Isaias. MFP Photo by Amy Schafer
A man ties down his boat in a marina ahead of an oncoming hurricane
A man secures his boat to a post on the dock at Ocean Springs Harbor ahead of Hurricane Isaias in Ocean Springs, Miss., on Oct. 8, 2026. MFP Photo by Amy Schafer

Follow the Mississippi Free Press’ coverage of Hurricane Isaias and read past stories here.

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Amy Schafer is the Mississippi Free Press' Gulf Coast bureau reporter in partnership with Report for America. A 2026 graduate of Pennsylvania State University's Schreyer Honors College, she holds degrees in advertising/public relations, global and international studies with a concentration in human rights and women's, gender and sexuality studies. Before joining MFP, she served as editor-in-chief of Penn State's student newspaper The Daily Collegian and freelanced for The Washington Post.