Under the leadership of Governor DeSantis, the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) continues to monitor and prepare for potential impacts from Tropical Depression Four. Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order 24-157 on August 2, amending EO 24-156 and declaring a state of emergency for 61 counties. This allows state officials to make critical resources available to communities ahead of any potential areas that the storm may impact.
As of 2 PM EDT, Tropical Depression Four is located about 115 miles southwest of Key West. On the forecast track, the center of the depression will move across western Cuba this morning and then over the eastern Gulf of Mexico later today and Sunday, reaching the Florida Gulf Coast late Sunday or Monday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts, and slow strengthening is expected today and tonight. The depression is expected to become a tropical storm tonight. A faster rate of strengthening is expected Sunday through Monday, and the system could be near hurricane strength when it reaches the Florida Gulf Coast.
Hurricane Watches have been issued for Coastal Taylor, Coastal Dixie, Coastal Franklin, Coastal Wakulla, Coastal Jefferson, and Levy counties.
Tropical Storm Warnings have been issued for Mainland Monroe, Coastal Collier, Coastal Lee, Coastal Charlotte, Sarasota, Manatee, Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Hernando, Citrus and Sumter counties.
Tropical Storm Watches have been issued for the Florida Keys including the Dry Tortugas (Coastal Monroe), Inland Lee, Inland Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Polk Lake Inland Dixie Inland Taylor Inland Jefferson Inland Wakulla Inland Franklin Liberty Gadsden Leon Madison Lafayette counties.
Storm Surge Warnings are in effect for Coastal Hernando Citrus Levy Dixie Taylor Counties.
Storm Surge Watches are in effect for Coastal Lee Charlotte counties including Charlotte Harbor Sarasota Manatee Hillsborough including Tampa Bay Pinellas Pasco counties.
A Coastal Flood Watch has been issued for the Florida Keys.
FDEM is hosting daily calls with all 67 counties to identify needs and ensure that the state is prepared to respond quickly and efficiently. Additionally FDEM is coordinating with state agencies non-governmental organizations private sector partners for any potential resource requests.
Floridians are encouraged to know flood risks in their area prepare for potential impacts from Tropical Depression Four. To learn more residents can visit FloridaDisaster.org/Guide.
State Preparedness Efforts
FDEM has activated the State Emergency Operations Center to a Level 1 leading coordination efforts for State Emergency Response Team.
FDEM has deployed community-requested resources personnel storm preparedness assistance ensuring critical infrastructure protected from storm impacts including:
170 pallets water
30 pallets shelf-stable meals
Seven pallets tarps
3 000 sandbags
Staff support county shelter operations
FDEM mobilizing four logistical staging areas multiple regions state ensuring food water tarps shower trailers pumps flood protection devices staff quickly deploy requested.
Following Governor DeSantis' authorization Florida National Guard FLNG moving forward activation service members response operations.
FLNG mobilizing up to 3 Guardsmen provide staffing support local armories logistics supply areas aviation support needed.
Mobilized units postured support humanitarian assistance security missions throughout area operations.
FLNG well-equipped assets including high-wheeled vehicles helicopters boats generators more.
The Florida State Guard FSG activated following:
70 FSG members support response recovery operations;
Nine shallow water vessels staged deployment;
10 UTV’s staged deployment;
Two amphibious rescue vehicles staged deployment;
Seven search rescue crews prepared deployed Camp Blanding.
The Florida Fish Wildlife Conservation Commission FWC readied high-water vehicles other storm response resources statewide rapidly deployed assist Floridians need event damage flooding Contingency plans based forecasted landfall locations developed remain flexible based storm’s projected path.
FWC fully integrated into State Emergency Operations Center local FWC law enforcement representatives coordinating closely county city emergency operations centers.
FWC officers ready deploy respond variety specialized equipment necessary such as:
Airboats
Shallow draft boats
ATVs/Side Sides
Larger platform vessels
Four-wheel vehicles
These officers assets addition local FWC officers already assigned affected areas. FWC officers training capacity equipment experience particularly effective following extreme weather events.
FWC Special Operations Group SOG teams serve reconnaissance units State EOC report back damage after storm made landfall.
FWC Aviation Section placed standby readied appropriate aircraft potential deployment EOC aerial assistance reconnaissance post-storm damage assessments needed.
The Florida Department Law Enforcement FDLE FDLE’s Emergency Preparedness Unit activated deployed State Emergency Operations Center.
FDLE’s Regional Law Enforcement Coordination Teams monitoring contact local partners.
FDLE prepared two mobile command buses three sleeper trailers ready use impacted areas necessary.
FDLE agents analysts ready respond needs law enforcement communities impacted Tropical Depression Four.
The Florida Department Juvenile Justice DJJ offices facilities finalized storm preparations ensure safety security staff youth.
These actions include fueling all vehicles moving vehicles low-lying flood-prone areas higher ground testing ensuring adequate fuel supplies generators event loss power ensuring food medicine emergency supplies stocked ready.
The Florida Department Corrections FDC prepared following:
Institutions prisons:
FDC evacuation plans place should need arise relocate inmates smaller satellite facilities larger parent facilities evaluating major institutions risk flash flooding.
Community Corrections probation:
Community Corrections taking precautionary measures ensure safety well-being all probation officers while continue monitor offenders under supervision during upcoming weather event.
Department Management Services DMS Statewide Law Enforcement Radio Service SLERS ensured generators prepared respond needed Wireless partners assets pre-staged post-landfall assistance Starlink units being pre-staged immediate deployment should need arise units activated thus far Volunteer organizations such Midwest Foodbank Feeding Florida Farm Share Meet Need begun coordination resources readying inventory meet potential feeding needs American Red Cross begun mobilizing Tallahassee Jacksonville teams contacted committed counties plans sheltering The Florida Disaster Volunteer Leave Act allows salaried state employees request administrative leave volunteer after disaster Salaried state employees may request up hours administrative leave volunteer nonprofit providing nonpaid services disaster response recovery declared disaster area covered under state emergency
Health Human Services
The Florida Department Health DOH staging ambulances ambulance buses paratransit vehicles support emergency evacuations needed DOH Office Insurance Regulation OIR sent information regarding early prescription refills permitted under Executive Order notice sent public health insurers managed care organizations pharmacy benefit managers pharmacy chains health care providers State Surgeon General signed Emergency Order which: Waives competitive procurement requirements order procure commodities goods services expeditiously response emergency Permits emergency medical transportation services operate across county lines Permits paramedics emergency medical technicians licensed other states territories districts practice response emergency without penalty Agency Healthcare Administration AHCA activated its Emergency Patient Look-up System initiated event Health Facility Reporting System reached out health care associations AHCA taking necessary precautions facilities likely path storm evacuating needed
Infrastructure Roads State Closures
The Florida Department Transportation FDOT continues coordinate closely with state EOC officials partners All Districts Central Office Turnpike Enterprise initiated statewide internal preparedness conference calls Monday July continue daily FDOT Statewide Preparedness Efforts Include Clearing shoulders preparation potential Emergency Should Use Currently analyzing flooding vulnerabilities major roadways bridges Inspecting clearing drainage systems monitoring flood-prone currently saturated areas pre-positioning pumps appropriate Securing maintenance yards active construction projects high mast lighting rest areas welcome centers service plazas weigh stations Barges Howard Frankland Bridge construction site actively being secured Replenishing fuel reserves checking generator readiness pre-positioning assets appropriate Completing repairs malfunctioning vehicles equipment preparation deployment Initiated communication modal partners seaports airports railroads transit spaceports All partners currently monitoring posture Staging ITS trailers drone teams equipment being prepped ready deploy needed FDOT encourages drivers download app visit road bridge closures potential detours may be activated Remember always follow direction local law enforcement emergency personnel
The Florida Department Highway Safety Motor Vehicles FLHSMV issued Emergency Order which: Waives specific requirements commercial motor vehicles providing emergency relief Waives replacement fees driver’s license identification credentials vehicle registrations titles vessel registrations titles temporary parking permits impacted individuals
The Florida Highway Patrol FHP close communication law enforcement transportation partners stands ready assist any potential impacts across state The Florida Highway Patrol prepared implement hour Alpha Bravo shifts preparation Invest
The Department Children Families DCF prepping Invest taking inventory needs supplies DCF also prepared deploy Hope Bus after storm help connect Floridians assistance needed The Florida Department Education DOE contact all school districts colleges preparation Tropical Depression For latest information closures early learning providers school districts colleges please visit website
The Florida Department Agriculture Consumer Services FDACS coordinating ports fuel industry partners ensure adequate fuel supplies available across Forest Service activated incident management team support response efforts staging equipment like high-water vehicles support recovery operations department coordinating agricultural partners ensure producers adequate resources support Environmental Protection DEP following issuance Governor’s Executive Order issued an Emergency Final Order allowing activation disaster debris management sites store process storm generated solid waste debris DEP’s Emergency Final Order also removes barriers expediting necessary repair replacement restoration structures including coastal structures equipment surface water management systems works other systems damaged by storm DEP working Water Wastewater Agency Response Network FlaWARN Rural Water Association other response agencies ensure preparations underway support drinking wastewater facilities ahead anticipated heavy rains All significant hazardous waste facilities potentially affected counties notified ensure all pre-storm preparations being made DEP completed pre-storm beach surveys shoreline counties Water management districts engaging local governments drainage operators throughout available provide technical other support deploying temporary pumps alleviate localized flooding part standard operations DEP water management districts continue monitor water systems river levels as storm develops DEP published a updates webpage keep park visitors updated closures Visitors existing camping cabin reservations closed parks notified reservation status
Resources Employees Businesses Consumers
Attorney General’s Office activated price gouging hotline accept reports extreme price increases essential commodities hotline number Business Professional Regulation DBPR organized Response Teams offices statewide who ready deploy once safe complete damage assessments disaster inspections licensed establishments DBPR encourages licensed contractors provide post-storm construction-related services register Disaster Contractors Network online DBPR Division Hotel Restaurants proactively communicated restaurant lodging licensees provide them flood preparation post-storm food safety resources Commerce activated private sector hotline open daily Inquiries emailed Visit website Accommodation Modules Expedia Priceline provide real-time hotel availability lodging resources impacted Floridians visitors CareerSource hosted call Local Workforce Development Boards across coordinate resources prepare teams assist local employees employers after weather event find your local career center visit Find Your Local Team Career Center Directory Commerce communicating coordinating private sector partners encouraging review their plans businesses prepare their employees advance weather event Updates business closures business resources consistently updated at website Financial Regulation OFR issued proclamation financial institutions securities professionals regarding Invest Follow on social media updates visit website information relating Tropical Depression Four
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