Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (Emergency Operations Center Briefing on Tropical Storm Milton) Governor Ron DeSantis, alongside Major General John D. H
Governor Ron DeSantis, alongside Major General John D. Haas (Adjutant General of Florida), Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) Executive Director Kevin Guthrie, Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Secretary Jared Perdue, delivered critical updates on the state’s ongoing preparedness for Hurricane Milton.
As of 5 p.m. ET, Hurricane Milton is located approximately 675 miles southwest of Tampa, Florida, with maximum sustained winds reaching 180 mph.
Read: Monster Hurricane Milton Threatens “Destructive” Landfall In Florida
The storm is forecast to pass near or just north of the Yucatan Peninsula today and Tuesday, before crossing the eastern Gulf of Mexico and making its way toward Florida’s west coast by Wednesday.
Warnings and Watches in Effect:
- Hurricane Warning: Charlotte, Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, Seminole, and Sumter counties.
- Hurricane Watch: Brevard, Clay, Collier, Duval, Flagler, Glades, Hendry, Indian River, Nassau, Okeechobee, Putnam, St. Johns, and Volusia counties.
- Tropical Storm Warning: Coastal Franklin, Coastal Jefferson, Coastal Wakulla, Collier, Dixie, Gilchrist, Glades, Hendry, Lafayette, Monroe, Okeechobee, Suwannee, Taylor, Western Alachua, and Western Columbia counties.
- Tropical Storm Watch: Baker, Bradford, Broward, Eastern Alachua, Eastern Columbia, Hamilton, Inland Jefferson, Madison, Martin, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, St. Lucie, and Union counties.
- Storm Surge Warning: Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Monroe, Pasco, Pinellas, and Sarasota counties.
- Storm Surge Watch: Brevard, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, St. Johns, Putnam, and Volusia counties.
Read: Florida Traffic Alert: Heavy Congestion On I-75 And I-275 North Due To Hurricane Evacuations
State Support and Assistance:
The State Assistance Information Line is now operational and available 24/7 to answer questions and provide updates in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole at 1-800-342-3557.
In preparation for Hurricane Milton, Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order 24-215, which amends EO 24-214, declaring a state of emergency for 51 counties. This order mobilizes state resources to ensure safety and support for Floridians ahead of the storm.
Residents are urged to stay informed and follow guidance from local officials as the storm approaches.
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