Gov. Rick Scott is declaring a state of emergency for several Florida counties ahead of Tropical Storm Michael.
Counties in the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend are under the state of emergency. Scott says the declaration will give the state and local government the time, resources and flexibility to be prepared for the storm.
Tropical Depression 14 formed off Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula early Sunday morning and strengthened to become Tropical Storm Michael by Sunday afternoon. It could strengthen to a hurricane in the coming days. The system is moving north and is forecast to move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico in the next few days.
“With the National Hurricane Center forecasting Tropical Depression 14 to strengthen and impact Florida’s Panhandle as a hurricane, families need to get prepared,” Scott said in a statement. “Our state understands how serious tropical weather is and how devastating any hurricane or tropical storm can be. As we continue to monitor this storm’s northward path toward Florida, it is critically important that our communities have every available resource to keep everyone safe and prepared.”
Scott says he will receive a full update and briefing on the forecast and potential impacts of the storm later Sunday.
>> THE LATEST ON TROPICAL STORM MICHAEL FROM STORM TEAM 8
