Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has issued a state of emergency for 41 counties in the state, including Monroe, which encompasses the Florida Keys. "We are closely tracking Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine, which is likely to strengthen this week as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico. I have signed Executive Order 24-208, declaring a state of emergency in 41 Florida counties that could experience significant impacts from the storm, and directing Florida agencies to prepare as needed. We will continue to monitor the storm's path and keep Floridians informed," DeSantis announced on his social media account.
The executive order highlights the serious threat of storm surges, coastal flooding and erosion, heavy rainfall leading to flash floods, and damaging winds along Florida's Gulf Coast. However, the southeastern part of the state, including Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, and Broward counties, is not included in the emergency declaration.
National Hurricane Center Issues Warning
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned on Monday that Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine is expected to strengthen and become a hurricane, to be named Helene, before it makes landfall on Florida’s northeastern Gulf coast this Thursday.
International Precautions
The governments of both Cuba and Mexico are also on high alert due to the presence of this weather system in the Caribbean. Cuba has issued a Tropical Storm Warning for Isla de la Juventud, Artemisa, and Pinar del Río, while Mexico has announced a Tropical Storm Warning for the Yucatán Peninsula from Río Lagartos to Tulum, and a Hurricane Watch from Cabo Catoche to Tulum.