Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency in Marion County and 34 other Florida counties in preparation for Hurricane Milton, which is expected to strengthen significantly and pose life-threatening risks. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office is urging residents to begin storm preparations as it approaches the west coast of Florida.
Governor Ron DeSantis has proclaimed a state of emergency for Marion County and 34 additional counties in Florida in anticipation of Hurricane Milton, which threatens to deliver Category 3 hurricane winds and surges to the state’s peninsula. The communities most vulnerable to this hurricane are still recovering from damage inflicted by Hurricane Helene last month and Hurricane Ian in 2022. In detail, the counties included in the state of emergency are Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, and Volusia. The National Hurricane Center has warned that Milton is projected to rapidly intensify in the next 36 hours, potentially becoming a significant Category 3 hurricane by mid-week as it approaches the western coast of Florida. This poses substantial risks of life-threatening impacts to regions along the coast. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office Division of Emergency Management is actively monitoring the situation. In a recent Facebook post, they encouraged residents to prepare for Tropical Storm Milton, emphasizing that the division had been in discussions over the weekend to formulate storm preparedness strategies. Many of their personnel have just concluded assisting in recovery efforts in North Florida and are now poised to tackle the impending storm threat.
The declaration of a state of emergency is a preemptive measure taken by state officials, specifically Governor Ron DeSantis, to facilitate resource allocation and response preparation in anticipation of severe weather events such as hurricanes. Hurricane Milton’s potential intensity raises significant concerns, particularly in regions still recovering from previous hurricane damage, highlighting the sustained vulnerability of Florida’s communities to natural disasters. Such declarations help ensure that residents and local authorities are alerted to prepare for imminent threats to safety and infrastructure.
In summary, Governor Ron DeSantis has initiated a state of emergency across 35 counties in preparation for the impending arrival of Hurricane Milton, anticipated to become a powerful Category 3 hurricane. This proactive step aims to mitigate the disaster’s impact, especially in areas still affected by previous hurricanes. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office is actively communicating with residents to prepare them adequately for this storm.
Original Source: www.ocala.com
