Florida State of Emergency: Which 25 Counties Are Under DeSantis’ Order as Hurricane Isaias Approaches?
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 25 counties on Tuesday as Tropical Depression Nine strengthened into Tropical Storm Isaias on Wednesday and moved across the southwestern Gulf of Mexico toward the northern Gulf Coast. The National Hurricane Center said Isaias was forecast to strengthen rapidly and approach the U.S. Gulf Coast later this week.
“Today, I signed an Executive Order issuing a state of emergency ahead of potential impacts from Tropical Depression 9,” DeSantis said in a press release Tuesday. The order allows the Florida Division of Emergency Management to stage personnel, equipment and supplies before any storm impacts occur.
The emergency declaration covers: Baker, Bay, Calhoun, Columbia, Dixie, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Suwannee, Taylor, Walton, Wakulla, and Washington. The counties cover much of Florida’s Panhandle and Big Bend region.
Isaias Storm Track and Potential Strength
The National Hurricane Center said Isaias was about 580 miles southwest of the mouth of the Mississippi River early Wednesday and moving east-northeast, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph at 4 a.m. CDT.
The National Weather Service’s Tallahassee office said Isaias was expected to turn northeast and then north Thursday night and Friday as it moves toward the northern Gulf Coast. The forecast called for 3 to 6 inches of rain across parts of the region, with isolated amounts near 10 inches possible.
The National Hurricane Center forecast the system to strengthen into a hurricane near the central Gulf on Thursday before approaching the northern Gulf Coast. The exact location and severity of impacts remained subject to changes in the forecast.
The National Weather Service said heavy rainfall could begin affecting the region as early as late Thursday and continue into the weekend. Areas west of the Apalachicola and Flint rivers were expected to have a higher risk of heavy rain. Forecasters said the additional rainfall could contribute to flash flooding and river flooding because of already saturated ground conditions.
Emergency Resources Being Staged Across North Florida
Florida’s State Emergency Response Team has begun mobilizing supplies in Tallahassee and the Santa Rosa County area. The governor’s office said staged resources include generators, fuel, flood barriers, drinking water, shelf-stable meals, tarps, flood barriers and sandbags.
DeSantis said that Executive Order 26-202 order would allow the state emergency agency “to stage critical preparedness resources and ensure Florida is ready to respond,” and urged residents to “take this time to get disaster plans in place and ensure their hurricane supply kit is stocked.”
NHC on Gulf Coast Risk
The NHC said in its advisory, “There is an increasing risk of dangerous wind and storm surge impacts along portions of the northern Gulf Coast. Residents from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle should closely monitor the latest forecast updates and ensure they have their hurricane plan in place.”
Residents in affected areas should continue monitoring updates from the National Hurricane Center, National Weather Service and Florida emergency management officials as the storm’s track and intensity become clearer.
