Gov. Ron DeSantis issues state of emergency for 49 counties

August 29, 2023

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — On Tuesday, Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 23-175 (Amending Executive Order 23-171, Emergency Management – Tropical Storm Idalia), expanding the number of counties under a state of emergency in preparation for Tropical Storm Idalia from 46 counties to 49 counties. Counties now included in the executive order are:

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, and Wakulla counties.

Aug. 28

On Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 23-172 (Amending Executive Order 23-171, Emergency Management - Tropical Storm Idalia), expanding the number of counties under a state of emergency in preparation for Tropical Storm Idalia from 33 counties to 46 counties. Counties now included in the executive order are:

Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lake, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Nassau, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, and Wakulla counties.

A copy of the original release, from Saturday, appears below.

Aug. 26

Today, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Executive Order 23-171, declaring a state of emergency for 33 counties in preparation for Invest 93L, which is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm in the coming days. The Governor and the Florida Division of Emergency Management are taking timely precautions to ensure Florida’s communities, infrastructure and resources are prepared, including those communities that are still recovering following Hurricane Ian. To read the Executive Order, click here.

“I signed an Executive Order issuing a state of emergency out of an abundance of caution to ensure that the Florida Division of Emergency Management can begin staging resources and Floridians have plenty of time to prepare their families for a storm next week,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “I encourage Floridians to have a plan in place and ensure that their hurricane supply kit is stocked.”

To find resources to help you and your family prepare for this storm, you can visit floridadisaster.org/planprepare.

The forecast currently places a tropical storm or hurricane making landfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast early – mid next week, with the potential for heavy rainfall, strong winds, and for isolated tornadic activity. Governor DeSantis issued the State of Emergency for the following 33 counties: