TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A state of emergency is currently in effect in 61 Florida counties, including Okeechobee County in our coverage area, due to the threat of Hurricane Helene, which is expected to reach severe levels in the next few days and strengthen to a Category 3.
Governor Ron DeSantis said Tuesday that all counties except those in southeast Florida are covered by the emergency order, which allows state authorities to provide resources to communities in advance of possible storm impacts.
The following 61 Florida counties are under a state of emergency:
- Alachua
- Baker
- bay
- Bradford
- Brevard
- Calhoun
- Charlotte
- Citrus fruits
- clay
- Necklace
- Columbia
- DeSoto
- Dixie
- Duval
- Escambia
- Flagger
- Franklin
- Gadsden
- Gilchrist
- Clearings
- golf
- Hamilton
- Hardee
- Henry
- Hernando
- Highland
- Hillsborough
- Holmes
- Jackson
- Jefferson
- Lafayette
- lake
- lee
- Leon
- Raise
- Freedom
- Madison
- Manatee
- Marion
- Monroe
- Nassau
- Okaloosa
- Okeechobee
- Orange
- Osceola
- Pasco
- Pinellas
- Polk
- Putnam
- Santa Rosa
- Sarasota
- Seminole
- St. John’s
- Sumter
- Suwannee
- Taylor
- union
- Volusia
- Wakulla
- Walton
- Washington
WATCH: Governor Ron DeSantis gives update on preparations for Helene
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis gives update on preparations for Helene
“Prepare yourself. You have time to do it. This storm brings a lot of uncertainty. But one thing is certain: we will see some impacts,” DeSantis said.
Tropical Storm Helene formed Tuesday morning and is expected to quickly strengthen into a Category 3 major hurricane before making landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida late Thursday evening.
DeSantis said the storm is expected to move quickly and the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend should be “especially prepared for a direct impact.”
WPTV
ON THE TRAIL OF THE TROPICS: Hurricane Center | Hurricane Guide
“There could be impacts that are outside the current cone. And in fact, we expect impacts that extend beyond the current cone,” DeSantis said.
In advance of the severe storm, more than 18,000 electricians are on standby to assist with storm-related power outages, and 3,000 Florida National Guard troops are on standby to assist with search and rescue and route clearance operations.
The Florida National Guard has also been activated and the state’s Emergency Management Agency is providing flood vehicles, tarps, generators and additional first responder personnel to areas expected to experience the worst of the storms.
In our broadcast area, the effects of Helene will be felt between Wednesday and Friday.
We will see the outer bands on Wednesday as the storm moves into the Gulf. This will continue through Thursday and the risk of severe weather, gusty winds and heavy downpours is high.
WPTV
“These outer bands could locally spawn a tornado and also produce between two and three inches of rain,” said Steve Villanueva, meteorologist with WPTV First Alert Weather. “The storm will stay about 300 miles west, but it will strengthen those winds. We could have winds of 40 to maybe 50 miles per hour.”
By the weekend, the storm probability will drop to more seasonal levels.
