At 9:30 AM today, Governor Ron DeSantis, alongside 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 order allows state officials to make critical resources available to communities ahead of any potential storm impacts.
As of 11 AM ET, Tropical Storm Helene officially formed over the Northwestern Caribbean Sea.
Watches and warnings in effect include:
Hurricane Watch: Bay, Calhoun, Charlotte, Coastal Collier, DeSoto, Gulf, Hardee, inland Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, inland Manatee, eastern Marion Mainland Monroe and Middle Keys (Monroe County), Orange, Osceola, Polk inland Sarasota, Seminole, and Sumter counties
Tropical Storm Warning: Lower Florida Keys & Dry Tortugas (Monroe County)
Tropical Storm Watch: Citrus, eastern Columbia, Dixie, Franklin Gadsden Gilchrist Hernando Coastal Hillsborough Jefferson Liberty Leon Levy Coastal Manatee western Marion Pasco Pinellas Coastal Sarasota Suwannee Taylor and Wakulla counties
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 their preparation efforts including measures like sandbag stations. For updates on county resources available visit FloridaDisaster.org/Counties for a list of all 67 county emergency management contacts.
State Preparedness Efforts
The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) activated the State Emergency Operations Center to a Level 1 on Tuesday September 24 and is leading coordination efforts for the State Emergency Response Team. FDEM is hosting twice-daily calls with all 67 counties to identify needs and ensure the state is prepared to respond quickly and efficiently. Additionally FDEM is coordinating with state agencies non-governmental organizations and private sector partners to facilitate ongoing resource requests for counties including requests for water generators and support personnel.
Nearly 500 missions are being facilitated by the State Emergency Response Team to assist counties in their preparation efforts. These missions accomplish vital tasks like 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 equipment including shallow water vessel boat teams flat-bottom-flood rescue skiffs amphibious rescue vehicles UTV’s cut-and-toss crews search-and-rescue teams and a UH-60 Blackhawk for daytime aerial assessment and logistics missions.
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 staging assets identifying squads for deployment staffing local emergency operations centers FDLE’s mutual aid team is at the State Emergency Operations Center coordinating law enforcement missions.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has readied high-water vehicles all other storm response resources statewide so they may be rapidly deployed to assist Floridians in need in the event of damage or flooding The FWC is fully integrated into the State Emergency Operations Center local FWC law enforcement representatives are coordinating closely with county city emergency operations centers FWC officers are ready to deploy respond with specialized equipment such as airboats shallow draft boats ATVs side-by-sides larger platform vessels four-wheel vehicles FWC Special Operations Group (SOG) teams will serve as reconnaissance units report on damage after storm landfall The FWC Aviation Section has been placed on standby readied appropriate aircraft potential deployment EOC aerial assistance reconnaissance post-storm damage assessments when needed
The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) is monitoring storm preparing mitigation measures mobilizing evacuation assets locating areas evacuation establishing liaisons local county municipal EOCs storm assistance
The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) offices facilities finalizing storm preparations ensuring safety security staff youth actions fueling vehicles moving 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 of State monitoring storm potential impacts making preparations secure historical properties The Division Elections monitoring providing updates information Supervisors Elections about potential impacts resources available offices All FDOT Districts Central Office Turnpike Enterprise initiated statewide internal preparedness conference calls beginning Monday September continue daily close coordination State EOC officials partners FDOT team members staffing Responding county requests personnel assets
FDOT Statewide Preparedness Efforts Include:
667 team members working offices EOCs conducting pre-storm preparations
490 team members working field conducting pre-storm preparations
193 pieces heavy equipment being used pre-storm preparations
164 team members staged cut toss operations
90 bridge inspectors staged deployment
28 team members staged UAV drone deployment
20 large pumps staged
634 generators staged assist traffic signal power
4 ITS trailers staged clearing shoulders preparation potential ESU analyzing flooding vulnerabilities major roadways bridges inspecting clearing drainage systems monitoring flood-prone currently saturated areas pre-positioning pumps appropriate securing high mast lighting maintenance yards active construction projects rest areas welcome centers service plazas weigh stations Howard Frankland Bridge barges cranes anticipated fully secured Wednesday September 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 FL511 app visit FL511.com road bridge closures potential detours may be activated Remember always follow direction local law enforcement emergency personnel Seaports open preparing storm Airports open monitoring Railroads open Transit agencies Spaceport partners
The Florida Department Veterans’ Affairs alerted home administrators nine Veterans’ Homes approach coming implementing hurricane preparation checklists facilities main generators case loss power contact U.S. leadership coordinate clinic closure announcements Volunteer begun following preparation efforts daily coordination calls Voluntary Organizations Active Disasters VOAD Identifying partner capabilities needs gaps ongoing Community Response Teams CERT Identifying pre-staging locations flood cleanup kits hygiene tools Key Messaging Partners Emphasizing importance Cash Confirm Connect strategy Promoting volunteer opportunities through Volunteer Connect Encouraging documentation donated resources hours Current rate hour $31.61
Florida Department Management Services working identify evacuation shelter sites special needs pet friendly evacuees far east Lake City west Panama City identified specific location land helicopters staff potentially COOP Escambia early preparations vendors commenced commodities services Health Human Services Agency Persons Disabilities APD hosting calls regional leadership partners provide determine anticipated unmet needs preparing policy documentation anticipated event actions providing regional staff curfew letters providers curfews The DOH Office Communications distributing social media platforms regarding topics flood water safety shelters boil notices more DOH OIR sent information early prescription refills permitted under EO public insurers managed care pharmacy benefit chains health care deploying over response staging currently Leon Osceola Pinellas WIC office close plan re-open Healthy Start program reaching coalitions located areas ensure continuity care clients alerting weather connecting Bureau Women Children WIC alerting coordinators remote Bureau Childcare Food alerting providers grab-and-go meals post-landfall AHCA communication evaluating evacuation plans hold participate provider calls TS9 ahead landfall As reporting evacuating update access Outreach conducted Monitoring ramp ENS Subscribers notified Encounters receive Infrastructure Roads Closures Highway Patrol Relocating command bus Jacksonville Washington staging post-landfall Communication established Troop Commander’s impacted staffing ESF sworn non-sworn effective rescue Quick Reaction Force consisting than members stand immediate remains communication transportation stands assist any FLHSMV issued waives specific requirements commercial motor providing relief replacement fees driver’s license identification credentials vehicle registrations titles vessel temporary parking permits impacted individuals DCF preparing secured supplies should Hope Bus need deployed working Community-Based Care Lead Agencies contact foster families group home providers ensure preparedness Mental Health Treatment Facilities disaster assessing readiness contacting adult protective services assess any needs plan place contacting Continuums licensed child facilities Substance Use Disorder treatment behavioral health Managing Entities stand deploy Through preliminary staffing delivering directing generators human services contacted Area Agencies Aging received following Elder Options PSA initiated call-downs assess Providers ordered meals case meal sites Thrive meal Hernando Sumter closed Thursday Friday shelf-stable ElderSource PSA Staff initiated call-downs assess Area Agency Pasco-Pinellas PSA Clients registering registry receiving Senior Connection PSA Shelf-stable provided express delivery disrupted later Southwest Inc initiated call-downs assess Education contacting districts assess closures fldoe.org/em-response/storm-info.stml Environmental Protection DEP working Water Wastewater Agency Network Rural Association response ensure underway support drinking wastewater significant hazardous waste notified ensure beach surveys shoreline developing post-storm response water management engaging engage governments operators technical deploying alleviate localized standard monitor systems river levels develops published webpage park visitors updated closures existing camping cabin reservations closed notified status Resources Employees Businesses Consumer Business Professional Regulation DBPR organized across offices complete assessments disaster inspections licensed establishments preparing personnel securing fleet ahead positioned initiate continuity protocols proactively communicated restaurant lodging licensees provide food encourages contractors construction-related register Disaster Contractors Network DCNOnline Commerce communicating coordinating private sector encouraging review plans employees advance Updates closures consistently updated CareerSource hosted Local Workforce Development Boards Community Action Agencies prepare assist employers find career center careersourceflorida.com Commerce Restaurant Lodging sheltering Agriculture Consumer Services FDACS coordinating ports fuel industry adequate supplies agricultural producers support Forest Service staging recovery Insurance Commissioner Yaworsky Office Regulation calling property casualty companies consumers projected path directed implement claims-handling procedures prompt efficient service impacted policyholders Insurers notice OIR monitoring timely reminded fine authority noncompliance coordination sent prescription refills permitted EO managed care benefit chains IMT Follow X Instagram Facebook visit information relating