Governor Ron DeSantis has issued Executive Order 24-209, amending the previous Executive Order 24-208, to increase the number of Florida counties under a state of emergency to 61 due to Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine.
The cyclone is currently located 120 miles west-southwest of Grand Cayman and 395 miles south-southwest of Key West, Florida. It is moving northwest at 8 mph. The system is expected to develop into a tropical storm over the northwestern Caribbean Sea and potentially become a hurricane over the eastern Gulf of Mexico by Wednesday.
Forecast models suggest that the cyclone could rapidly intensify into a major hurricane before approaching the northeastern Gulf Coast on Thursday. The forecast indicates significant threats including life-threatening storm surge and damaging wind gusts for the Florida Gulf Coast. Additionally, impacts such as storm surge, wind, and rainfall are expected to extend far from the center of the system.
Tropical Storm Watches are in effect for eighteen Florida counties, Hurricane Watches for another eighteen counties, and Storm Surge Watches extending from Southwest Florida Coast to central Florida Panhandle. Water tables and riverine levels across much of north and west-central Florida remain high due to recent Hurricane Debby, raising concerns about potential significant riverine flooding with additional heavy rainfall.
Governor DeSantis stated: "An amendment to Executive Order 24-208 is necessary because recovery efforts and those affected by this disaster require the continued support of the State of Florida."
The amended executive order declares a state of emergency in 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,
and Washington counties.
This executive order takes immediate effect and will expire upon the expiration of Executive Order 24-208.