Governor Ron DeSantis declared several Florida counties in a state of emergency in preparation for the possible arrival of a storm this could become a “significant threat”.
“Based on weather reports, there are there is a significant threat of heavy rainl across most of the state of Florida, with the possibility of at least a foot of rain over the next seven days,” the Thursday evening announcement reads. “Groundwater in the affected areas is already approaching maximum capacity and the incoming heavy rains will cause significant river flooding that could last for several weeks.”
Counties in state of emergency: Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Holmes , Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, St. .Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton and Washington Counties.
The story will continue to be updated.
This reporting content is supported by a partnership with Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. USA Today Network-Florida First Amendment reporter Douglas Soule lives in Tallahassee, Florida. He can be reached at DSoule@gannett.com. Twitter: @DouglasSoule.
This article originally appeared in the Tallahassee Democrat: DeSantis declares state of emergency in Florida due to storm 97L in the Gulf
