DeSantis declares state of emergency for 41 counties as potential hurricane targets Florida

ORLANDO, Fla. – With a potential hurricane bearing down on Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday declared a state of emergency for 41 counties, including Marion and Sumter in Central Florida.

“We are tracking Potential Tropical Cyclone #9, which is likely to strengthen this week as the system enters the Gulf of Mexico,” DeSantis said in a statement. “I have issued Executive Order 24-208, declaring a state of emergency in 41 counties in Florida that could see potential impacts from the storm and directing Florida agencies to prepare as necessary.

[CONE, MODELS, MORE: Projected hurricane targets Florida]

As of Monday morning, the disturbance had maximum wind speeds of 30 mph and was located about 350 miles south-southeast of the western tip of Cuba and about 130 miles south-southwest of Grand Cayman.

By 8 a.m. Thursday, the National Hurricane Center predicts that the system will be a Category 2 hurricane, with 110 mph winds, off Tampa Bay. Computer models currently show the system targeting the Florida Panhandle or Big Bend area, but changes are possible once the system gets a defined center.

DeSantis urged Floridians to prepare for the storm.

“We will continue to monitor the storm’s path and keep Floridians updated,” he said. “Now is the time to make an emergency plan, know your evacuation zone, and be as prepared as possible for the storm.”

Because of a potential major disaster, DeSantis declared a state of emergency for the following counties: Alachua, Bay, Bradford, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, Columbia, Dixie, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Monroe, Okaloosa, Pasco, Pinellas, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington counties.