Governor Ron DeSantis has issued Executive Order (EO) 24-157, amending the previously declared EO 24-156 to include seven additional counties under a state of emergency due to the impending threat posed by Potential Tropical Cyclone Four. The amendment follows the National Hurricane Center's advisory, which upgraded Invest 97L to Potential Tropical Cyclone Four.
The cyclone is currently situated 360 miles southeast of Key West, Florida. It is anticipated to traverse Cuba and the Florida Straits before potentially impacting Florida's west coast over the weekend. Forecasts predict that it will develop into a tropical depression on Saturday and possibly intensify into a tropical storm by Saturday night.
Governor DeSantis cited continuing threats of heavy rainfall across large portions of Florida, with forecasts indicating widespread rainfall amounts between four to eight inches and localized totals potentially reaching twelve inches.
"An amendment of Executive Order 24-156 is necessary because recovery efforts and those most affected by this disaster require the continued support of the State of Florida," stated Governor DeSantis in the executive order.
The amended executive order now includes Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades Gulf Hamilton Hardee Hendry Hernando Highlands Hillsborough Holmes Jackson Jefferson Lafayette Lake Lee Leon Levy Liberty Madison Manatee Marion Monroe Nassau Okaloosa Okeechobee Orange Osceola Pasco Pinellas Polk Putnam Santa Rosa Sarasota Seminole St. Johns Sumter Suwannee Taylor Union Volusia Wakulla Walton Washington counties under a state of emergency.
The executive order takes immediate effect and will remain in place until EO 24-156 expires.