Jason Delgado
Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency Friday for counties potentially in the path of Tropical Depression Fred.
The 23 counties under the state of emergency are as follow:
Bay, Calhoun, Citrus, Dixie, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Manatee, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Taylor, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington counties.
The declaration comes as Tropical Depression Fred crawls toward South Florida and Florida’s Gulf Coast.
As of 5 p.m., the storm was tracked roughly 210 miles southeast of Key West and produced maximum sustained winds near 35 mph.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warns tropical storm conditions may impact the Florida Keys as early as Saturday.
Meanwhile, models released Friday project most of Florida’s Gulf Coast will experience heavy rains and possible flooding.
“Tropical storm conditions are possible late Saturday and early Sunday across portions of the west coast of Florida in the Tropical Storm Watch area,” NOAA said in the latest advisory. “The risk of tropical storm conditions will spread northward along the Florida west coast and to the Florida Panhandle Sunday and Monday.”
Late Friday, Attorney General Ashley Moody activated Florida’s Price Gouging Hotline.
In a statement, Moody noted that price gouging law applies only within the area of a declared state of emergency.
“With Tropical Depression Fred approaching our shores, I’m urging all Floridians to be prepared,” Moody said. “I’ve activated the state’s price gouging hotline to accept reports of extreme price increases of essential goods in areas covered by the declared state of emergency.”
Fred threatens Florida as the sixth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.
Earlier this month, NOAA updated the 2021 Atlantic hurricane seasonal forecast to reflect more storms.
The agency now forecasts a 70% probability of 15 to 21 named storms. They expect seven to 10 hurricanes — three to 10 of which could develop into major hurricanes.
11 comments
Alex
August 13, 2021 at 9:34 pm
Will our fearless Governor forbid us from preparing for the storm?
Jerry
August 13, 2021 at 10:17 pm
No. You can prepare all you like. But the state isn’t going to force your neighbor to prepare. Even in mandatory evacuations, if someone doesn’t want to leave, the police won’t force them.
Just like no one stops you from wearing a mask or getting the vaccine. If that’s what you want to do, do it.
That’s the whole point….freedom.
Alex
August 13, 2021 at 10:34 pm
Please tell me what rights you lost.
I went through all of them like free speech, trial by jury, habeus corpus…
And I can’t think of one that you’ve lost.
Please name a few.
Tom
August 14, 2021 at 8:05 am
Well said Jerry. That’s the point you fool Alex, Governor Ron supports your freedom. Even a hater like yourself. Compared to your lockdown Governors who have encroached on those freedoms. Typical cocoon liberal purposefully not aware.
Sad.
Alex
August 14, 2021 at 9:37 am
Jerry can’t tell me what rights he’s lost, can you?
Alex
August 14, 2021 at 4:53 pm
Again?
Lol.
Like shooting fish in a barrel
You’re now a twice proven liar.
Deb Dunn
August 17, 2021 at 9:43 am
other’s freedom ends at the tip of my nose, the next time someone’s breath touches me my freedom is lost.
Zhombre
August 14, 2021 at 8:35 am
You can wear your mask.
Karen
August 13, 2021 at 10:14 pm
Stay safe everyone!
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August 14, 2021 at 8:25 am
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Deb Dunn
August 17, 2021 at 9:48 am
This storm is nothing, he’s making a mountain out of a mole hill, we have more violent thunder storms.
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