Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Saturday expanded the state of emergency to include all counties in the state in anticipation of Tropical Storm Ian.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Florida to be affixed, at Tallahassee, this 24th day of September 2022.
STATE OF FLORIDA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 22-219
(Amending Executive Order 22-218, Emergency Management – Tropical Depression Nine)
WHEREAS, on September 23, 2022, I issued Executive Order 22-218 and declared a state of emergency exists for several counties in Florida’s Peninsula and the Florida Keys due to Tropical Depression Nine; and
WHEREAS, as of 11:00 PM EDT on September 23, 2022, Tropical Depression Nine strengthened into Tropical Storm Ian, with maximum sustained winds of 40 miles per hour; and
WHEREAS, as of 8:00 AM EDT on September 24, 2022, Tropical Storm Ian was approximately 855 miles southwest of Key West, Florida; and
WHEREAS, Tropical Storm Ian is forecasted to become a major hurricane before making landfall along Florida’s West Coast; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Division of Emergency Management, working together with the National Hurricane Center to evaluate weather predictions, has determined there is a continuing risk of dangerous storm surge, heavy rainfall, flash flooding, strong winds, hazardous seas, and isolated tornadic activity for Florida’s Peninsula and portions of the Florida Big Bend, North Florida, and Northeast Florida; and
WHEREAS, the threat posed by Tropical Storm Ian requires that timely precautions are taken to protect the communities, critical infrastructure, and general welfare of Florida; and
WHEREAS, as Governor, I am responsible to meet the dangers presented to Florida and its people by this emergency.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ron DeSantis, as Governor of Florida, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Article IV, Section 1(a) of the Florida Constitution and by the Florida Emergency Management Act, as amended, and all other applicable laws, promulgate the following Executive Order, to take immediate effect:
Section 1. Section 1 of Executive Order 22-218 is amended to read as follows:
Because of the foregoing conditions, which are projected to constitute a major disaster, I declare a state of emergency exists in the State of Florida.
Section 2. Except as amended herein, Executive Order 22-218 is ratified and reaffirmed.
Section 3. This Executive Order is effective immediately and shall expire upon the expiration of Executive Order 22-218.
Today, I extended the State of Emergency for Tropical Storm Ian to all 67 counties in Florida.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) September 24, 2022
I encourage all Floridians to continue to monitor the storm and listen to local officials. https://t.co/0jNTYhtFlh
The depression became a tropical storm on Friday and could form into a hurricane by Monday.
The hurricane’s forecast path then goes through Cuba before possibly making landfall in Florida on Wednesday. The National Hurricane Center said when issuing its forecast on Friday that there is fairly high uncertainty over the storm’s forecast.
“This storm has the potential to strengthen into a major hurricane and we encourage all Floridians to make their preparations," DeSantis said. "We are coordinating with all state and local government partners to track potential impacts of this storm.”
Forecasters said there are a number of different potential paths the system could take. Forecasters generally agree the storm is moving toward a more favorable area for tropical development.
The National Hurricane Center said residents of the eastern Gulf Coast of the U.S. should monitor the storm’s progress.
A potential hurricane next week could also prompt a federal response. Currently, 700 workers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency are in Puerto Rico assisting with recovery efforts following Hurricane Fiona.
For information about Tropical Storm Ian go to Fox 4's Tracking The Tropics for the latest developments.
