HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Leaders in Hillsborough County have extended its local state of emergencies for both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.
The state of emergency for Hurricane Helene originally went into effect on Sept. 23 while the state of emergency for Hurricane Milton went into effect on Oct. 6.
The Hurricane Helene state of emergency has been extended through Dec. 2. The Hurricane Milton state of emergency is in effect through Dec. 1.
According to the county, a local state of emergency can only be in effect for seven days, unless rescinded or extended.
"The emergency declaration gives the County Administrator and emergency managers the ability to quickly take certain actions to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the community, and it provides a path for federal reimbursement of certain expenses," a county press release reads.
Hurricane Helene made landfall as a powerful Category 4 storm around 11:10 p.m. on Sept. 26, about 10 miles west-southwest of Perry, Florida.
Not even two weeks later, Hurricane Milton reached Category 5 status before making landfall as a Category 3 storm near Siesta Key, Florida on Oct. 9.
