TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida is facing the threat of yet another tropical system as Milton takes aim at the state, prompting Gov. Ron DeSantis to issue a state of emergency for 51 counties.
The state of emergency is in effect for all of the counties in the WPTV viewing area: Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee.
Below are the 51 Florida counties under a state of emergency:
- Palm Beach
- Martin
- St. Lucie
- Indian River
- Okeechobee
- Broward
- Miami-Dade
- Alachua
- Baker
- Bradford
- Brevard
- Broward
- Charlotte
- Citrus
- Clay
- Collier
- Columbia
- DeSoto
- Dixie
- Duval
- Flagler
- Gilchrist
- Glades
- Hamilton
- Hardee
- Hendry
- Hernando
- Highlands
- Hillsborough
- Lafayette
- Lake
- Lee
- Levy
- Madison
- Manatee
- Marion
- Monroe
- Nassau
- Orange
- Osceola
- Pasco
- Pinellas
- Polk
- Putnam
- Sarasota
- Seminole
- St. Johns
- Sumter
- Suwanee
- Taylor
- Union
- Volusia
All of South Florida and the Treasure Coast is under a flood watch until Thursday at 8 a.m. Areas could see 6-10 inches of rain this week.
Milton quickly grew to hurricane strength on Sunday and is forecast to become a major hurricane as it takes aim at Florida's west coast. As of Sunday morning, the storm is located around 800 miles west southwest of Tampa.
TRACKING THE TROPICS: Hurricane Center | Hurricane Guide
DeSantis said that debris caused by Hurricane Helene could be a hazard under the conditions expected to be brought by Milton. The governor signed an executive order stating that disaster debris management sites and all landfills in counties impacted by Helene to remain open to allow for 24-hour debris drop-off in efforts to expedite the debris cleanup process.
DeSantis said he signed an order stating that anyone evacuated as a result of Milton to be able to get back into their home as soon as possible.
"Obviously if there are hazards and people's safety is in jeopardy, like a bridge is not functioning, that's one thing, but the default has got to be getting people back into their homes." DeSantis said.
All of the state's personnel that are currently helping in North Carolina and Tennessee with impacts from Hurricane Helene have been asked to return home ahead of Milton's landfall, according to DeSantis.
Kevin Guthrie, director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, said that the state's emergency response team has been planning for this particular system for at least two weeks based off long-term models.
"I urge Floridians to finalize your storm preparations now, enact your plan," Guthrie said. "I highly encourage you to evacuate. We are preparing, and I have the State Emergency Response Team preparing, for the largest evacuation that we have seen since 2017 Hurricane Irma."
