DeSantis issues state of emergency ahead of Tropical Storm Milton
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Gov. Ron DeSantis has issued a state of emergency for Lee County and 50 other counties ahead of Tropical Storm Milton, which is forecast to become a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico Monday morning.
The National Hurricane Center has issued flood warnings for Lee County from Sunday morning to Thursday. Peak tropical storm force winds are expected to reach Fort Myers Beach Tuesday with the possibility of a major hurricane following depending on how the storm shifts in the next 48 hours.
In a statement announcing the state of emergency, DeSantis warns of life-threatening storm surge for the Gulf Coast.
The National Weather Service is predicting Milton could turn into a Category 2 or 3 hurricane.
Tropical Storm Milton is currently in the southwest Gulf of Mexico and is forecast by the National Hurricane Center to gradually move off to the northeast while steadily intensifying. Areas of locally heavy rain are expected to arrive though across the Florida Peninsula and Keys well ahead of the intensifying storm.
"The track is a bit uncertain as to where it will make landfall," National Weather Service meteorologist Christianne Pearce said.
"Everything along the coast will see impacts. You will definitely see storm surge," Pearce said.
The hurricane is expected to make landfall late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning.
The exact estimate of how much storm surge has not yet been determined by the National Hurricane Center, Pearce said. An estimated four to six inches of rain is expected through Thursday.
Depending on which way the storm lands, Lee County could see tropical storm winds between 40 to 70 miles per hour or Category 2 hurricane winds of up to 110 miles per hour. More information is expected from the National Weather Service in the next 24 hours.
The Lee County Board of County Commissioners were set to meet at noon to discuss the storm.
"We are well within the forecast cone and even if the storm shifts north or south we will have big impacts along our coastline," Lee County Public Safety Director Ben Abes said.
County offices will be open Monday at 8 a.m. and will be closed at noon. They will be closed through Thursday. No evacuation orders are in place but expects to issue evacuation orders Monday but no later than Tuesday.
The county expects to open some emergency shelters Monday.
Abes said sandbags are available through local fire departments.
Abes said residents should stop putting out debris from Hurricane Helene.