Florida Governor DeSantis Declares State of Emergency For Tropical Storm Milton
 |
| Florida Governor Ron DeSantis |
TALLAHASSEE, Florida - Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a State of Emergency for 35 Florida counties in anticipation of Tropical Storm Milton making landfall somewhere on the west coast of Florida as a major hurricane.
The counties under 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 State of Emergency makes funding available to assist local and state agencies responding to the disaster area, activates the Florida National Guard, as needed, and gives agencies the discretion to modify rules, deadlines, and licensing requirements where appropriate.
The State of Emergency also addresses ongoing recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene. Section 13 mandates that all Disaster Debris Management Sites and landfills in affected counties remain open 24 hours a day to facilitate debris removal. This effort is critical to ensure that storm recovery remains on track before Tropical Storm Milton makes landfall.
As Tropical Storm Milton continues to strengthen in the Gulf, I have issued EO 24-214 ahead of potential landfall on Florida’s west coast this week. This EO declares a state of emergency in 35 Florida counties.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) October 5, 2024
As many continue to recover from Hurricane Helene, I have directed…
