Gov. DeSantis issues emergency declaration for 34 counties ahead of storm Nicole
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Tropical Storm Nicole
The latest on a storm that is forecast to affect Florida’s eastern coast.
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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an emergency declaration Monday for 34 counties — including Miami-Dade and Broward — that are in the potential path of Subtropical Storm Nicole.
The declaration was signed “in an abundance of caution so that communities can prepare and families and businesses can create a plan and gather necessary resources in the event that Subtropical Storm Nicole gains in strength,” according to the governor’s office.
“While this storm does not, at this time, appear that it will become much stronger, I urge all Floridians to be prepared and to listen to announcements from local emergency management officials,” DeSantis said in a news release. “We will continue to monitor the trajectory and strength of this storm as it moves towards Florida.”
READ MORE: Will Subtropical Storm Nicole affect Election Day weather? What the forecast says
Regardless of intensity or the exact path of Nicole, the governor’s office reminded Floridians to prepare for “an increased risk of coastal flooding, heavy winds, rain, rip currents and beach erosion.” Wind gusts can be expected as soon as Tuesday along Florida’s east coast, according to the office.
READ MORE: When will Miami and the rest of Florida feel Subtropical Storm Nicole’s rain and wind?
The counties under the state of emergency are: Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, DeSoto, Duval, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter and Volusia.
READ MORE: Hurricane watch issued for Florida’s east coast ahead of Subtropical Storm Nicole
As of 4 p.m. Monday, a hurricane watch is in effect for the east coast of Florida from the Volusia-Brevard county line to the city of Hallandale Beach in southern Broward County, and in Lake Okeechobee. There is also a tropical storm watch from Georgia’s Altamaha Sound southward to the Volusia-Brevard county line and from Hallandale Beach to north of Ocean Reef in the Florida Keys.
A storm surge watch is in effect from Altamaha Sound to Hallandale Beach and from the mouth of the St. Johns River in Jacksonville to the east of the city of Palatka in Putnam County.
This story was originally published November 7, 2022 at 3:14 PM.
