TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Forty-nine Florida counties are now under a state of emergency as Hurricane Idalia, which is expected to rapidly strengthen into a major Category 3 hurricane, approaches the Sunshine State.
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday that a previous executive order was amended and an additional three counties have been added to the state of emergency declaration, which does not include any counties in South Florida or the Treasure Coast. President Joe Biden approved the declaration.
"This is gonna be a major impact and Floridians should expect that this storm will be a major Category 3-plus hurricane. So please plan accordingly," DeSantis said.
WATCH: Gov. Ron DeSantis gives update on Tropical Storm Idalia
Counties now under a state of emergency include:
- Alachua
- Baker
- Bay
- Bradford
- Brevard
- Calhoun
- Charlotte
- Citrus
- Clay
- Collier
- Columbia
- DeSoto
- Dixie
- Duval
- Flagler
- Franklin
- Gadsden
- Gilchrist
- Gulf
- Hamilton
- Hardee
- Hernando
- Hillsborough
- Jefferson
- Lafayette
- Lake
- Lee
- Leon
- Levy
- Liberty
- Madison
- Manatee
- Marion
- Nassau
- Orange
- Osceola
- Pasco
- Pinellas
- Polk
- Putnam
- Sarasota
- Seminole
- St. Johns
- Sumter
- Suwannee
- Taylor
- Union
- Volusia
- Wakulla
Read the full executive order below:
The National Hurricane Center said Idalia will further strengthen into a Category 2 hurricane by Tuesday afternoon, and eventually a major Category 3 hurricane by Wednesday morning.
It's expected to make landfall somewhere in the Big Bend or northern west coast of Florida.
Ahead of Idalia's arrival, DeSantis said Monday that seven Urban Search and Rescue teams, 5,500 National Guardsmen and Airmen, and tens of thousands of power linemen are mobilized and ready to be deployed to emergencies throughout the state.
In addition, tankers carrying several hundred thousand gallons of fuel are en route to Central Florida to pre-stage for the storm.
DeSantis is urging any Floridians in evacuation zones like the west coast or barrier islands to heed evacuation orders.
"Keep in mind, if you're told to evacuate, you do not need to drive hundreds of miles. You do not need to leave the state of Florida. You basically need to go to higher ground," DeSantis said. "The key is to not be in those areas that are gonna be hit with big time storm surge and that are potentially gonna have life-threatening situations."
TRACKING THE TROPICS: Hurricane Center | Hurricane Guide
Tampa International Airport and St.Pete-Clearwater International Airport said they would close on Tuesday, and the Sunrail commuter rail service in Orlando was being suspended.
And the state is lifting tolls at 4 a.m. Tuesday in parts of the state: Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lake, Pasco, Pinellas and Sumter counties.
