Saturday 24 September 2022 11:59 PM DeSantis now declares emergency for ENTIRE STATE of Florida over Tropical Storm ... trends now
Florida governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for his entire state, as Tropical Storm Ian gathers strength over the Caribbean and forecasters say it could slam into the Sunshine State early next week.
DeSantis originally issued the order for 24 counties on Friday, but on Saturday widened the declaration to encompass all 67 counties in Florida.
He encouraged residents and local governments to make preparations as the storm moves towards the state. The Florida National Guard has also been activated.
The GOP governor has further requested a federal pre-landfall emergency declaration.
'This storm has the potential to strengthen into a major hurricane and we encourage all Floridians to make their preparations,' DeSantis said in a statement.
Tropical Storm Ian is in the southern Caribbean but is expected to bring heavy rain, intense hurricane winds to the state next week
The storm could begin hitting southern Florida late on Monday or Tuesday morning, with this graphic showing one potential path
DeSantis initially issued the emergency order for two dozen counties on Friday but has now expanded the warning to the entire states 67 counties
There are still various models suggesting which way the storm will track
The storm is expected to strengthen into a category 4 hurricane before striking the Florida coast
Florida governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for the entire state of Florida as Tropical Storm Ian gathers strength over the Caribbean
'We are coordinating with all state and local government partners to track potential impacts of this storm.'
The National Hurricane Centre said Ian is forecast to rapidly strengthen in the coming days before moving over western Cuba and approach Florida next week with major hurricane force.
John Cangialosi, a senior hurricane specialist with National Hurricane Centre in Miami, said it is currently unclear where Ian will hit hardest in Florida and said residents should begin preparing for the storm, including gathering supplies for potential power outages.
'It's too soon to say if it's going to be a south-east Florida problem or a central Florida problem or just the entire state,' he said to WESH. 'So, at this point, really the right message for those living in Florida is that you have to watch forecasts and get ready and prepare yourself for potential impact from this tropical system.'
The National Hurricane Center has been tracking Tropical Storm Ian, forecast to strengthen into a hurricane within the next few days
Counties across Central Florida have been preparing for possible impact from the storm
Officials in the Caribbean and Florida are warning residents to prepare for the arrival of Tropical Storm Ian, an intensifying storm that's expected to grow into a hurricane
The weather system is currently churning southeast of Jamaica and was declared a tropical storm Friday night. It is projected to hit populated areas with heavy rains and high winds starting Sunday
The storm is first expected to hit Jamaica, Cuba and the Cayman Islands
Bradley Sierra and his family load plywood to board up their home at Home Depot in St. Cloud, Florida, as they spent Friday stocking up. 'We got a lot of water, food, gasoline, a generator in case the power goes out,' he said
Residents in Osceola County, south of Orlando, are already stocking up on plywood boards
Floridians panic bug water at Costco ahead of a possible hurricane which is expected to affect Florida early next week
The storm could begin hitting