DeSantis declares state of emergency in Florida ahead of Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order on Monday declaring a state of emergency ahead of Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine.

The storm is expected to impact Florida’s Gulf Coast as a hurricane this week, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The state of emergency covers 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.

Many Gulf Coast counties are still recovering from Hurricane Debby, which impacted the Big Bend region last month, and river levels have remained high. The oncoming storm brings the threat of storm surge, damaging winds and heavy rains to the region.

Click here to read the full executive order.

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