National Hurricane Center official reports

DeSantis Declares Emergency in 35 Counties as Tropical Storm Milton Strengthens in Gulf

Oct 5, 2024, 09:37 PM

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency in 35 counties, including all of South Florida, as Tropical Storm Milton strengthens in the Gulf of Mexico and approaches Florida's west coast. The storm formed in the Gulf and is expected to make landfall this week. DeSantis issued Executive Order EO 24-214 to facilitate the state's preparations. The affected counties include Miami-Dade, Broward, Seminole, Volusia, and others. DeSantis has directed state agencies to expedite debris removal and cleanup in areas still recovering from Hurricane Helene.