TALLAHASSEE, Fla. —
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order on Tuesday declaring a state of emergency in 25 counties as a precaution due to Tropical Depression Nine in the Gulf.
A system in the Gulf was upgraded Tuesday afternoon to Tropical Depression Nine, with current intensity models showing it could strengthen into the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season’s first hurricane. If that happens, the storm will be named Isaias.
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. Computer models seem to agree on a path first east, then north toward an area within a range that stretches from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle.
There were no coastal watches or warnings in effect at the time of this writing.
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. 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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