At 9:30 AM today, Governor Ron DeSantis and Kevin Guthrie, Executive Director for the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), held a press conference at the State Emergency Operations Center to provide updates on Tropical Storm Helene. Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order 24-209 on September 24, updating EO 24-208 and declaring a state of emergency for 61 counties. This declaration allows state officials to make critical resources available to communities ahead of potential storm impacts.
As of 11 AM ET, Tropical Storm Helene officially formed over the Northwestern Caribbean Sea. Watches and warnings are in effect for various counties across Florida.
Floridians are encouraged to know their risks from hurricane hazards and prepare for potential impacts from Tropical Storm Helene. Residents can visit FloridaDisaster.org/Guide for more information. Counties have begun preparation efforts including measures like sandbag stations. For updates on county resources, visit FloridaDisaster.org/Counties.
The FDEM activated the State Emergency Operations Center to Level 1 on Tuesday, September 24 and is leading coordination efforts for the State Emergency Response Team. The agency is hosting twice-daily calls with all 67 counties to identify needs and ensure the state is prepared to respond quickly and efficiently.
Nearly 500 missions are being facilitated by the State Emergency Response Team to assist counties in their preparation efforts. These missions include prestaging response resources, protecting critical infrastructure facilities like hospitals and utility stations, and coordinating personnel statewide.
The Florida State Guard (FSG) has prepared over 250 soldiers ready to deploy along with various rescue vehicles and equipment.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is making plans to ensure continuity of operations in several critical areas including Missing Endangered Persons Information Clearinghouse and the Watch Desk. FDLE logistics teams are moving assets, identifying squads for deployment, staffing local emergency operations centers, and coordinating law enforcement missions at the State Emergency Operations Center.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has readied high-water vehicles and other storm response resources statewide so they may be rapidly deployed if needed. FWC officers are ready with specialized equipment such as airboats, shallow draft boats, ATVs/Side-by-sides, larger platform vessels, four-wheel vehicles, reconnaissance units for damage reporting post-storm landfall, and aviation section aircrafts on standby.
The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) is monitoring the storm while preparing mitigation measures including mobilizing evacuation assets and establishing liaisons in local county EOCs.
The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) offices are finalizing preparations ensuring safety for staff and youth by fueling vehicles, testing generators, stocking food supplies among other measures.
Other departments such as Health & Human Services agencies are also actively preparing by hosting calls with regional leaderships providing storm information while deploying emergency response vehicles in staging areas like Leon County.
Florida's infrastructure agencies like FDOT have initiated statewide internal preparedness conference calls beginning Monday which continue daily. They have begun staffing EOC while responding to county requests deploying heavy equipment pieces for pre-storm preparations ensuring readiness through securing high mast lighting maintenance yards active construction projects rest areas service plazas weigh stations among others replenishing fuel reserves checking generator readiness pre-positioning assets as appropriate completing repairs malfunctioning vehicles equipment preparing deployment initiating communication modal partners seaports airports railroads transit spaceports currently monitoring posture staging ITS trailers drone teams equipment prepped ready deploy needed
Various other departments such as Volunteer Florida Health & Human Services DBPR FDMS DOH AHCA DEP DCF DOEA FDOE Commerce FDACS OIR etc., have also initiated similar proactive steps ensuring readiness against any potential impact from Tropical Storm Helene emphasizing importance "Cash Confirm Connect" strategy promoting volunteer opportunities encouraging documentation donated resources volunteer hours
Governor DeSantis emphasized ongoing coordination across multiple sectors urging residents stay informed follow directives local authorities utilizing available online resources latest updates
For continuous updates follow FDEM social media platforms or visit official website