Gov. Ron DeSantis on Saturday expanded a state of emergency statewide in Florida as “Tropical Depression Nine strengthened into Tropical Storm Ian, with maximum sustained winds of 40 miles per hour,” according to a more expansive executive order.
Tropical Storm Ian is forecasted to become a major hurricane before making landfall along Florida’s West Coast, the order states.
“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,” the order continued, and the threat posed by Tropical Storm Ian requires that timely precautions are taken to protect the communities, critical infrastructure, and general welfare of Florida.”
