Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 25 Florida counties in anticipation of Tropical Depression Nine, which intensified to Tropical Storm Isaias, through Executive Order 26-202 this week.
“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 release. “Floridians should take this time to get disaster plans in place and ensure their hurricane supply kit is stocked.”
The state of emergency includes 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.
Tropical Storm Isaias is expected to become Hurricane Isaias, a Category 2 storm, before it makes landfall somewhere between eastern Louisiana and the western Florida panhandle by Friday. Isaias will likely be the first Atlantic hurricane of the 2026 season.
Category 2 hurricanes bring potential winds of 96 to 110 mph.
Heavy rainfall, strong winds, coastal flooding and isolated tornadoes are possible in North Florida. Heavy rainfall could also lead to flash flooding around the impact area.
"There will be impacts by Isaias to the Florida panhandle," DeSantis wrote. "Even if it makes landfall west of the panhandle the eastern, most dangerous side the storm will impact NW Florida. If you are in those communities make sure to execute your hurricane plan."
The Florida State Emergency Response Team (SERT) is also mobilizing the following resources in Tallahassee and Santa Rosa.
- Generators
- Fuel
- Flood Barriers
- Boxed Water Pallets
- Shelf-Stable Meals
- Flood Buckets
- Tarps
- Tiger Dams
- Sandbags
For more resources and preparation tips, please visit FloridaDisaster.org. You can also follow @FLSERT on X for live updates and information on the storm.
