Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency for 35 counties, including all of Central Florida, on Saturday as Tropical Storm Milton makes its way towards the state.
“Because of the foregoing conditions, which are projected to constitute a major disaster, I declare that a state of emergency exists in Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechohee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, and Volusia counties.”
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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.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) October 5, 2024
As many continue to recover from Hurricane Helene, I have directed…
DeSantis said he has directed the Florida Division of Emergency Management and the Florida Department of Transportation to coordinate all available personnel and resources to help communities as they expedite debris removal in impacted areas from Hurricane Helene which made landfall in Florida less than 10 days ago.
Tropical Storm Milton is forecast to strengthen into a Category 3 hurricane bringing the risk of life-threatening impacts to portions of Florida’s Gulf coast next week, according to the NHC.
The NHC expects it to remain over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico through Sunday night, then move across the south-central Gulf of Mexico on Monday and Tuesday before approaching the west coast of Florida by midweek.