Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis

Florida Governor DeSantis Provides Update On State Preparations For Hurricane Milton

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis held a briefing today at the State Emergency Operations Center to update on Hurricane Milton preparedness efforts.

As of 11 a.m ET, Hurricane Milton was located roughly 190 miles southwest of Tampa, Florida, with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph.

The storm is expected to move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico today, make landfall along Florida’s west-central coast late tonight or early Thursday morning, and exit over the western Atlantic Ocean by Thursday afternoon.

READ: Hillsborough County Opens More Shelters As Hurricane Milton Approaches

Current Advisories:

  • Hurricane Warnings are in effect for: Brevard, Charlotte, Citrus, DeSoto, Flagler, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, and Volusia counties.
  • Hurricane Watches are in effect for: Clay, Collier, Dry Tortugas, Duval, Glades, Hendry, Lake Okeechobee, Martin, and Nassau counties.
  • Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect for: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Broward, Clay, Coastal Franklin, Coastal Jefferson, Coastal Wakulla, Collier, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Gilchrist, Glades, Hendry, Lafayette, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe (Mainland & Keys), Nassau, Palm Beach, Suwannee, Taylor, and Union counties.
  • Tropical Storm Watches are in effect for: Hamilton, Inland Jefferson, and Madison counties.
  • Storm Surge Warnings are in effect from the Levy/Citrus County Line through Mainland Monroe, and along the East Coast through Brevard County.

READ: Pinellas County Adds 3 New Shelters As Hurricane Milton Closes In

The State Assistance Information Line is now open and available 24/7 to assist residents, with speakers available in English, Spanish, and Haitian-Creole. The hotline can be reached at 1-800-342-3557.

Governor DeSantis has issued Executive Order 24-215, amending EO 24-214, which declares a state of emergency for 51 counties in preparation for Hurricane Milton’s impacts.

For more information on hurricane preparedness and resources, visit FloridaDisaster.org/Guide. To find updates on county resources and emergency management contacts, visit FloridaDisaster.org/Counties.

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