Governor Ron DeSantis has issued Executive Order 24-209, amending the previous Executive Order 24-208 to increase the number of counties under a state of emergency in Florida. This decision comes as Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine approaches, prompting concerns about its potential development into a major hurricane.
"Today, Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order (EO) 24-209, Emergency Management – Amending Executive Order 24-208 – Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine, increasing the number of counties in the state of Florida under a state of emergency to 61 ahead of the storm," said Bryan Griffin, Director of Communications for Governor Ron DeSantis.
On September 23, 2024, an initial state of emergency was declared for forty-one counties due to Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine. As of September 24, 2024, the cyclone is positioned 120 miles west-southwest of Grand Cayman and moving northwest at a speed of eight mph. The environmental conditions suggest that this system will intensify into a tropical storm and potentially become a hurricane by Wednesday over the eastern Gulf of Mexico.
Forecast models predict rapid intensification before it approaches the northeastern Gulf Coast on Thursday. The system is expected to grow large and powerful with significant threats including life-threatening storm surge and damaging wind gusts for the Florida Gulf Coast.
"There are Tropical Storm Watches in effect for eighteen Florida counties, Hurricane Watches in effect for eighteen Florida counties, and Storm Surge Watches extending from the Southwest Florida Coast to the central Florida Panhandle," stated Governor DeSantis.
The recent impacts from Hurricane Debby have left water tables and riverine levels above normal across north and west-central Florida. Additional heavy rainfall could cause significant flooding that may prolong recovery efforts. Critical infrastructure such as interstates, roadways, bridges, airports, schools, hospitals, and power grids may face operational challenges due to these impacts.
An amendment to Executive Order 24-208 was deemed necessary by Governor DeSantis to ensure continued support for recovery efforts and those affected by this potential disaster. "As Governor of Florida," he stated, "I am responsible to meet the dangers presented to the State of Florida and its people by this emergency."
The amended executive order declares a state of emergency in sixty-one counties including Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard among others. The executive order is effective immediately and will expire upon the expiration of Executive Order 24-208.
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