State of Emergency: Florida Girds for Tropical Storm Idalia's Menace

Photo byPhoto 258152282 | Hurricane Ian © Andrii Biletskyi

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made an emergency declaration for 33 counties along the Gulf Coast in response to a potential tropical cyclone forming off the coast of Mexico.

DeSantis stated he was exercising an "abundance of caution," leaving roughly half of the state under an emergency.

The Florida governor said he declared a state of emergency "to ensure that the Florida Division of Emergency Management can begin staging resources and Floridians have plenty of time to prepare their families for a storm next week."

According to the National Hurricane Center, the system became Tropical Depression Ten late Saturday afternoon off the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico.

The current prognosis predicts that Tropical Storm Idalia will approach Florida's Gulf Coast later on Tuesday. Tropical Depression Ten is expected to steadily grow over the following 48 hours, likely developing into Tropical Storm Idalia on Sunday.

The executive order states that a tropical storm or hurricane is expected to make landfall along Florida's Gulf Coast early to mid-next week, with the possibility of significant rainfall, powerful gusts, and sporadic tornadic activity.

Less than a year ago, Hurricane Ian, which slammed into Florida's southwest coast as a strong Category 4 storm before sluggishly moving across the peninsula and wreaking havoc, shook the state.

Ian first made landfall with winds of 150 mph, then 90 minutes later, still a Category 4 storm with 145 mph winds, it made a second landfall just south of Punta Gorda, close to Pirate Harbor.

In the entire state of Florida, 144 people died as a result of Hurricane Ian, according to the Florida Medical Examiners Commission.

The Midwest is still without power after devastating thunderstorms tore through Michigan, and over 90 million Americans are under heat alerts on Saturday due to extreme weather nationwide.

"I encourage Floridians to have a plan in place and ensure that their hurricane supply kit is stocked," DeSantis said.

Do you think the emergency declaration and preparation measures are sufficient to handle the potential impact of Tropical Storm Idalia?

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