TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency ahead of Tropical Storm Idalia Saturday.
The National Hurricane Center said the storm formed Sunday morning just off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula.
“I signed an Executive Order issuing a state of emergency out of an abundance of caution to ensure that the Florida Division of Emergency Management can begin staging resources and Floridians have plenty of time to prepare their families for a storm next week,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said. “I encourage Floridians to have a plan in place and ensure that their hurricane supply kit is stocked.”
The state of emergency applies to 33 of Florida’s counties. These are:
- Alachua
- Bay
- Calhoun
- Charlotte
- Citrus
- Columbia
- DeSoto
- Dixie
- Franklin
- Gadsden
- Gilchrist
- Gulf
- Hamilton
- Hardee
- Hernando
- Hillsborough
- Jefferson
- Lafayette
- Lee
- Leon
- Levy
- Liberty
- Madison
- Manatee
- Marion
- Pasco
- Pinellas
- Polk
- Sarasota
- Sumter
- Suwannee
- Taylor
- Wakulla
If you need guidance on how to prepare for a hurricane or tropical storm, visit floridadisaster.org/planprepare.