Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order on Tuesday declaring a state of emergency in 25 counties as a precaution due to a storm in the Gulf that has since become Hurricane Isaias.
A system in the Gulf was upgraded late Wednesday to Hurricane Isaias, officially becoming the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season’s first hurricane.
Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center have recommended that interests in the Yucatan Peninsula and the northern U.S. Gulf Coast closely monitor the progress of the system.
The executive order signed Tuesday by Gov. DeSantis — EO 26-202 — declares a state of emergency in the following counties: Baker, Bay, Calhoun, Columbia, Dixie, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Suwannee, Taylor, Walton, Wakulla, and Washington.
“Today, I signed an Executive Order issuing a state of emergency ahead of potential impacts from Tropical Depression 9 (now Hurricane Isaias). This order will allow the Florida Division of Emergency Management to stage critical preparedness resources and ensure Florida is ready to respond,” DeSantis said in a statement. “Floridians should take this time to get disaster plans in place and ensure their hurricane supply kit is stocked.”
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