TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Gov. Ron DeSantis has issued a state emergency ahead of potential tropical weather that could hit parts of Florida.
DeSantis’ executive order came after the National Hurricane Center (NHC) indicated there was a heightened chance of development for Invest-97L, a system of disorganized storms over the Caribbean.
The NHC said the system could develop into a tropical depression.
According to DeSantis’ order, there is “significant threat of heavy rainfall over most of the State of Florida, with the possibility of at least twelve (12) inches of rainfall over the next seven (7) days.”
The state of emergency covers the following counties: Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington.
