TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Sept. 23, 2024—Gov. Ron DeSantis has issued a state of emergency for 41 counties ahead of a Florida hurricane landfall later this week.
Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton and Escambia counties are included in the declaration.
Related: “Caribbean low forecast to strengthen into a hurricane“
According to the executive order, Florida is looking at possible impacts beyond the center of the storm, including significant storm surge, coastal flooding and erosion, heavy rainfall, flash flooding and damaging winds along the Gulf coast.
Water tables and river levels across north and west-central Florida remain above normal from Hurricane Debby in early August, according to the order. As a result, any additional rainfall from the approaching storm will likely cause significant river flooding for an extended period.
Gusty winds will likely cause widespread power outages due to fallen trees and powerlines. Roadways, bridges, interstates, airports, schools, hospitals, power grids and other critical infrastructure could also be affected.
Counties include:
- 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
- Washington
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