TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – As Hurricane Milton approached Florida from the Gulf of Mexico Sunday, Gov. Ron DeSantis extended his declaration of a state of emergency from 32 to 51 counties — including Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe.
DeSantis also met with Kevin Guthrie, the Florida Division of Emergency Management’s executive director, at the state’s emergency operations center.
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“I don’t think there’s any scenario where we don’t have major impacts at this point,” DeSantis told reporters Sunday.
According to DeSantis, The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, or FDLE, was preparing to operate from centers in Tampa and Fort Myers.
The Florida Department of Transportation was helping barrier islands in the Pinellas and Manatee counties with supplemental sand and debris removal.
“If you’re on that west coast of Florida, barrier islands, just assume you’ll be asked to leave,” DeSantis said.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was working to deploy high-water vehicles, airboats, shallow draft boats, ATVs, larger platform vessels, four-wheel vehicles, reconnaissance units, and aviation.
The Florida Highway Patrol was working to deploy more troopers to St. Peterburg. FHP was also preparing high-water rescue vehicles and drone assets.
“I highly encourage you to evacuate,” Guthrie said about residents in high-risk zones.
A U.S. Air Force Reserve hurricane hunter aircraft crew reported that the center of Hurricane Milton was rapidly intensifying on Sunday in the Gulf of Mexico.
Milton had maximum sustained winds of nearly 80 mph and higher gusts. According to The National Hurricane Center, it will become a major hurricane on Monday, as it moves north of the Yucatan Peninsula.
Its forecast track at a faster northeastward motion on Tuesday and Wednesday, cross the Gulf of Mexico, and approach the west coast of the Florida Peninsula by midweek.
HURRICANE SPECIALIST: Milton stronger, forecast to strike Florida’s west coast as a major hurricane this week
As of 1 p.m., NHC reported Milton was about 290 miles west-north-west of Progreso, Mexico, and about 815 miles west-south-west of Tampa, Fla. It had 80 mph maximum sustained winds.
NHC issued a Tropical Storm Warning from Celestun to Cabo Catoche, which means Milton’s effects will be felt within 36 hours. A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect from East of Cabo Catoche to Cancun, meaning the effects will be felt within 48 hours.
NHC meteorologists warned hurricane and storm surge watches may be required for portions of Florida late Sunday. Florida’s forecast includes 5 to 8 inches of rainfall with totals of up to 12 inches through Wednesday night.
WEATHER AUTHORITY: Flood watch in effect in Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe
NHC warns rainfall brings the risk of locally considerable flash, urban, and areal flooding, along with widespread minor to moderate river flooding with major flooding possible.
The next NHC advisory is at 4 p.m.
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