In response to the advance of Storm Milton, Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 35 counties in Florida, including Miami-Dade.
"As Tropical Storm Milton continues to strengthen in the Gulf, I have issued Executive Order 24-214 ahead of its possible landfall on the west coast of Florida this week. This Executive Order declares a state of emergency in 35 counties in Florida," announced the politician on his X account.
"While many continue to recover from Hurricane Helene, I have ordered that all available personnel and resources be coordinated to support local communities while accelerating debris removal in the affected areas. We will continue to deploy state resources to prepare for an efficient search and rescue operation, the restoration of electric supply, and the clearing of roads," he detailed.
The included counties are: Miami-Dade, Broward, Brevard, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, and Volusia counties.
The DeSantis Order recalls that the tropical storm formed in the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to rapidly intensify into a hurricane by early Monday. It will become a major hurricane upon making landfall on the west coast of Florida next week.
"This severe weather can cause power outages, damage to infrastructure, and hinder recovery efforts from previous storms," warns the document.
"There is an increasing risk of storm surges and wind impacts that threaten lives starting Tuesday and Wednesday, with heavy rain forecasted across Florida, particularly affecting Gulf Coast communities that are still recovering from Hurricane Helene," he specified.
Milton has intensified in recent hours with winds reaching around 85 km/h and is slowly but steadily moving towards the west coast of Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
The storm, which at 5:00 am (local time) was about 355 miles (565 km) west-northwest of Progreso, Mexico, and about 845 miles (1,360 km) west-southwest of Tampa, Florida, is currently moving very slowly, at a speed of 5 mph (7 km/h).
Meteorological authorities have warned that Milton could become a hurricane this Sunday night, and there is a possibility that it may evolve into a major hurricane as it crosses the central and eastern Gulf of Mexico.
It is expected to continue its movement toward the east-northeast over the next two days, and then accelerate toward the northeast.
It could reach the west coast of Florida by midweek, bringing intense rains and potential flooding.
Rain accumulations of between 5 and 8 inches are expected in the Florida Peninsula and the Keys, with peaks of up to 12 inches in some areas, increasing the risk of sudden and urban flooding due to already saturated soils, as well as river overflow. Rain is also expected in the north of the Yucatán Peninsula and the west of Cuba.
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