Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order Tuesday night declaring a state of emergency for 25 Florida counties in advance of a rapidly developing tropical depression heading toward northwest Florida.
“This order will allow the Florida Division of Emergency Management to stage critical preparedness resources and ensure Florida is ready to respond,” DeSantis said in a news release. “Floridians should take this time to get disaster plans in place and ensure their hurricane supply kit is stocked.” The governor said residents should visit FloridaDisaster.org for a review of disaster plans.
The tropical depression is officially known as Tropical Depression 9. The state of emergency is in effect for: Baker, Bay, Calhoun, Columbia, Dixie, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Suwannee, Taylor, Walton, Wakulla, and Washington counties.
“Impacts are expected to extend beyond the point of landfall, with heavy rainfall, strong winds, coastal flooding, and isolated tornadoes possible across North Florida,” DeSantis said. “Additional precipitation could further saturate soils and increase the potential for flash flooding following the state’s recent significant rainfall.”
Meanwhile, state emergency response teams began mobilizing Tuesday to support storm preparation efforts. Resources, such as fuel, generators, flood barriers, pallets of water bottles, tarps, sandbags and shelf-stable meals, are being staged in both Leon and Santa Rosa counties to ensure they can be sent quickly to communities in need.
