ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a State of Emergency for 51 counties in Florida as forecasts show Hurricane Milton tracking toward the Sunshine State's west coast.
The governor's office said the declaration applies to the following counties:
- Alachua
- Baker
- Bradford
- Brevard
- Broward
- Charlotte
- Citrus
- Clay
- Collier
- Columbia
- DeSoto
- Dixie
- Duval
- Flagler
- Gilchrist
- Glades
- Hamilton
- Hardee
- Hendry
- Hernando
- Highlands
- Hillsborough
- Indian River
- Lake
- Lee
- Madison
- Manatee
- Marion
- Martin
- Miami-Dade
- Monroe
- Nassau
- Okeechobee
- Orange
- Osceola
- Palm Beach
- Pasco
- Pinellas
- Polk
- Putnam
- Sarasota
- Seminole
- St. Johns
- St. Lucie
- Sumter
- Suwanee
- Taylor
- Union
- Volusia
The governor's office added that the storm is projected to become a major hurricane near or at landfall along Florida's west coast by the middle of this week, bringing life-threatening storm surge and wind impacts for portions of the state's western peninsula as soon as later Tuesday and Wednesday.
The declaration also called for all disaster debris management sites and landfills in all counties impacted by Hurricane Helene to remain open for 24-hour debris drop-off.
"This is part of the State of Florida's effort to ensure as much debris from Helene is cleaned up and disposed of ahead of the coming storm," the governor's office said.
To read the full declaration, click here.
