Gov. Ron DeSantis Declares State Of Emergency

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for 35 Florida counties due to Tropical Storm Milton, which meteorologists believe will strengthen into a major hurricane.

All counties in the Tampa Bay Area are included in the emergency declaration.

Reports indicated that Tropical Storm Milton has formed and could develop into a Category 3 storm or larger before making landfall.

“DeSantis issued Executive Order (EO) 24-214, declaring a state of emergency for Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, and Volusia counties,” FOX 13 Tampa Bay reports.

“As Tropical Storm Milton continues to strengthen in the Gulf, I have issued EO 24-214 ahead of potential landfall on Florida’s west coast this week. This EO declares a state of emergency in 35 Florida counties,” DeSantis said Saturday.

“As many continue to recover from Hurricane Helene, I have directed @FLSERT and @MyFDOT
to coordinate all available personnel and resources to supplement local communities as they expedite debris removal in impacted areas. We will continue staging state assets to prepare for efficient search and rescue, power restoration, and roadway clearing,” he added.

As Tropical Storm Milton continues to strengthen in the Gulf, I have issued EO 24-214 ahead of potential landfall on Florida’s west coast this week. This EO declares a state of emergency in 35 Florida counties.

As many continue to recover from Hurricane Helene, I have directed…

— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) October 5, 2024

Per FOX 13 Tampa Bay:

Tropical Storm Milton is expected to become a dangerous hurricane that could hit the west coast of Florida next week with damaging winds, life-threatening storm surge and torrential rain.

Hurricane and Storm Surge watches will likely be required for portions of Florida on Sunday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

BREAKING: Gov. Ron DeSantis declares state of emergency in the following counties ahead of forecasted Hurricane Milton pic.twitter.com/EeV3UpZdmL

— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) October 5, 2024

“The National Hurricane Center now reporting that tropical storm Milton is expected to make landfall in Florida as a major Category 3 hurricane by midday Wednesday. This is a serious situation unfolding and still developing,” Rawsalerts wrote.

#BREAKING: The National Hurricane Center now reporting that tropical storm Milton is expected to make landfall in Florida as a major Category 3 hurricane by midday Wednesday. This is a serious situation unfolding and still developing pic.twitter.com/U79MpGtIRB

— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) October 5, 2024

USA TODAY reports:

Tropical Storm Milton formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday as forecasters expect the storm to quickly strengthen into a major hurricane over the next few days.

Milton is expected to rapidly intensify over the next 36 hours and could be a major Category 3 hurricane when it reaches the west coast of the Florida peninsula mid-week, bringing the risk of life-threatening impacts to portions of the state’s west coast, the National Hurricane Center said. Areas at the greatest risk are communities still reeling from last month’s Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Ian in 2022.

FLORIDA: STORM ALERT:#BREAKING New storm named Milton to hit Florida this week

The new storm is forecast to strengthen to Hurricane Milton before taking aim on Florida this week.

The storm, currently a tropical depression churning in the Gulf of Mexico, will become Tropical… pic.twitter.com/xkMrs76RFo

— WayneTech SPFX® (@WayneTechSPFX) October 5, 2024

Here’s the latest path of Tropical Storm Milton, which is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane before making landfall in Florida by midweek.

Get prepared with The Weather Channel TV app: https://t.co/EAfvm950sr pic.twitter.com/VDTWopz9G3

— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) October 5, 2024

This is a Guest Post from our friends over at 100 Percent Fed Up.

View the original article here.