Okeechobee County declared a state of local emergency Tuesday afternoon, ahead of Tropical Storm Helene.
Gov. Ron DeSantis declared 61 counties, including Okeechobee, under a state of emergency.
Okeechobee County said in a release that they declared a local state of emergency "Out of an abundance of caution and to ensure resources will be available if needed."
The county is distributing sandbags and shovels to residents at the Public Works Department Compound, 804 NW 2nd Street. They are limiting them to 10 bags a vehicle, but residents will have to fill their own bags.
The Okeechobee County School Board said in a Facebook post that they are monitoring the storm.
Schools will be open on Wednesday. However, after-school activities may be impacted based on expected weather conditions in the evening.
"Decisions regarding the remainder of the week will be made as the forecast becomes more defined," the Facebook post said.
WPTV reporter Michael Hoffman is in Okeechobee County and says officials at the emergency operations center are urging residents get sandbags early, and have a 72-hour kit prepared with medications, non-perishable food, water, batteries and flashlights.
Officials said they're also concerned about traffic along State Road 70, as that is an evacuation route for the Gulf coast.
