As the sunshine state goes through hurricane season, Governor Rick Scott announced that he will declare a state of emergency for the panhandle as a potential hurricane will likely threaten the area in the middle of the week.
The hurricane center advisory noted that “There is an increasing risk of dangerous storm surge, rainfall and wind impacts over portions of the northern Gulf Coast by mid-week, although it is too soon to specify the exact location and magnitude of these impacts. Residents in these areas should monitor the progress of this system.”
Governor Scott stresses the need to prepare for threats like this, saying that residents “know just how quickly the path of a storm can change, and that’s why we all must be vigilant and get prepared today.”
In a statement, the Governor explained that “With the National Hurricane Center forecasting Tropical Depression 14 to strengthen and impact Florida’s Panhandle as a hurricane, families need to get prepared. Today, I will be declaring a state of emergency in counties in the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend and directing the State Emergency Operations Center to activate. Later today, I will receive a full update and briefing on the forecast and potential impacts of the storm from federal, state and local emergency management officials. Our state understands how serious tropical weather is and how devastating any hurricane or tropical storm can be.”
