Florida Declares State of Emergency in Anticipation of Potential Tropical Storm in the Gulf of Mexico

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Meteorologists have issued warnings for likely flash floods and landslides across the eastern regions of the Yucatan peninsula and the western parts of Cuba. Concurrently, Florida is preparing for a potential hurricane by the middle of the week. A weather system situated off Mexico’s coast is projected to escalate into a tropical storm by Sunday, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.

Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida proclaimed a state of emergency on Saturday for a majority of the state’s Gulf coast. This declaration comes as the weather system is gaining strength while moving northward across the Gulf of Mexico. On Saturday, the National Hurricane Center cautioned that this system has the potential to unleash hazardous storm surges, intense rainfall, and powerful winds along Florida’s Gulf coast and Panhandle area by the week’s midpoint.

The emergency declaration by Governor DeSantis encompasses the Gulf coast region, stretching from the city of Fort Myers in the southwest to Panama City in the Panhandle. The order applies to 33 out of Florida’s 67 counties.

According to the National Hurricane Center, there is a 70% probability that the system will develop into a tropical storm by Monday and a 90% likelihood in total. As it stands, the storm will bear the name “Idalia” if no other tropical storm materializes before it. Current prediction models indicate that the center of this storm will not venture near the southwestern parts of Florida that were severely impacted by Hurricane Ian last year.

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Governor DeSantis released a statement, stating that he has issued his executive order as a precautionary measure. This allows the Florida Division of Emergency Management to commence the deployment of resources and provides Florida residents with adequate time to prepare for the forthcoming storm. “I urge Floridians to formulate a contingency plan and make certain their hurricane supply kits are fully stocked,” he elaborated.

Current weather models predict the storm veering northeast toward Florida. It is expected to make landfall along the Gulf coast north of Tampa in the vicinity of the Big Bend area, before traversing the state diagonally and reemerging in the Atlantic Ocean near southeast Georgia.

Thus far in 2023, cyclonic activities have spared the U.S. East Coast. However, the western regions experienced the ravages of Tropical Storm Hilary, which resulted in widespread flooding, mudslides, and blocked roads earlier this month in Mexico, California, Nevada, and northern areas.

Officials have reported that intense storms, driven by wind speeds reaching up to 75 mph, have caused the downfall of trees, resulting in five fatalities and leaving hundreds of thousands of customers without electricity.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently revised its predictions for the 2023 hurricane season, indicating that it will be significantly more active than initially anticipated, partly due to unusually warm ocean temperatures. The season extends until November 30, with the peak usually occurring in August and September.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about State of Emergency in Florida

More about State of Emergency in Florida

• U.S. National Hurricane Center
• Florida Division of Emergency Management
• NOAA’s Updated 2023 Hurricane Season Forecast
• Hurricane Preparedness Guidelines
• Current Weather Models and Storm Tracking
• Previous Impacts of Tropical Storms in the U.S.
• State of Emergency Declaration by Governor Ron DeSantis