WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Florida officials were staging emergency supplies and activating response plans Thursday as Hurricane Isaias strengthened over the Gulf of Mexico and threatened the Panhandle with damaging wind, storm surge, heavy rain and possible tornadoes.

Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 25 counties stretching from Escambia County through the Big Bend, giving the state greater flexibility to prepare for and respond to the storm. The order covers 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 counties.

DeSantis is scheduled to provide an update on the state’s response at 12:30 p.m. Thursday in Tallahassee alongside Florida Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Jared Perdue.

SEE MORE: Latest Isaias forecast | Interactive Hurricane Radar

The Florida Division of Emergency Management said State Emergency Response Team resources were being staged in Tallahassee and the Santa Rosa area for rapid deployment. Those supplies include generators, fuel, flood barriers, bottled water, shelf-stable meals, flood buckets, tarps, Tiger Dams and sandbags. State officials warned that impacts could extend well beyond the landfall area, including flash flooding from already saturated ground.

The National Hurricane Center’s latest full advisory said Isaias had strengthened into a hurricane with 80 mph sustained winds. Forecasters said the system could continue strengthening before approaching the northern Gulf Coast late Friday or early Saturday.

Across Northwest Florida, county and city leaders moved from planning into protective actions:

Okaloosa County declared a local state of emergency and ordered a mandatory evacuation of coastal Zones A and B beginning at noon Thursday. The order includes Okaloosa Island and parts of coastal Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Mary Esther and Niceville. Shelters were scheduled to open Thursday evening at Davidson Middle School in Crestview and Raider Arena in Niceville. County offices are to close Friday, public transit will suspend regular service, and officials said bridges could close when sustained winds reach 40 mph. County schools are closed Thursday and Friday.

Walton County declared a local state of emergency and began voluntary evacuations for Zones A and B at 8 a.m. Thursday. Freeport High School opened as a general-population, special-needs and pet-friendly shelter. The county also listed sandbag sites in South Walton, Freeport, Miramar Beach and DeFuniak Springs, while schools closed Thursday and Friday. [Walton County, FL – Home Page](https://www.mywaltonfl.gov/1304/Emergency-Declarations-Local-State-of-Em?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

Bay County and Panama City prepared for potential storm surge and flooding. Panama City began securing noncritical assets and drawing down wastewater-treatment facilities, while opening a sandbag distribution site at 3404 W. 19th St., near the Boys & Girls Club. Residents and businesses can receive up to 10 bags.

Gulf County ordered mandatory evacuations for RVs at Water’s Edge RV Park, Presnell’s RV Resort and Indian Pass Campground because of the surge and flooding threat. Residents in other low-lying areas were urged to consider leaving voluntarily.

Escambia County planned to move its emergency operations center to a higher activation level Thursday and expected round-the-clock Level 1 operations Friday. The county requested high-water vehicles from the state, while Pensacola crews prepared retention ponds, fueled vehicles and secured construction sites. Escambia and Santa Rosa county schools will be closed Friday.

Santa Rosa County and Gulf Breeze issued local emergency declarations. Gulf Breeze’s order allows emergency protective measures and spending outside normal procurement procedures.

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Military installations also began storm actions. Hurlburt Field ordered residents of privatized base housing and FAMCamp to evacuate by 5 p.m. Thursday because projected flooding could affect water and sewer service. The installation entered HURCON 3 and shifted to mission-essential operations. Tyndall Air Force Base planned to restrict access beginning at noon Thursday.

The state’s Isaias information page also reminded residents that eligible policyholders may be able to refill prescriptions early. Under Florida law, insurers and managed-care organizations must waive “refill too soon” restrictions and authorize at least a 30-day supply when authorized refills remain for people in a county under a hurricane warning, a governor-declared emergency or an activated local emergency plan.

Residents can find official state preparedness information, county emergency-management contacts and current storm information through Florida Disaster, the National Hurricane Center and local emergency-management agencies.