Governor Ron DeSantis has now reportedly issued an emergency declaration for a large portion of the state ahead of a major disturbance that could intensify into a tropical depression.
The storm may not develop into a depression, but forecasters are still advising people to prepare for significant rainfall and flooding.
DeSantis issued an executive order that focuses on getting resources ready in 54 of the 67 counties in North, Central, and Southwest Florida in case of a potential “major disaster.” Except for Monroe County, none of the South Florida counties are covered by the emergency declaration.
The National Hurricane Center’s tracking of a tropical wave known as Invest 97L led to the declaration of a state of emergency.
Over Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, the southeast Bahamas, and the nearby waters of the southwest Atlantic and northeastern Caribbean Sea, forecasters said the wave is causing a wide area of showers and thunderstorms.
This weekend over the eastern Gulf of Mexico close to Florida, it may intensify into a tropical depression as the weather becomes more conducive to storm formation, according to the hurricane center.
According to the directive, critical infrastructure including things like electricity grids, schools, hospitals, bridges, airports, and highways could be majorly effected by the storm.
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