https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/gov-desantis-declares-state-of-
emergency-ahead-potential-tropical-depression/

DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for 54 counties, most along the
Gulf Coast and in northern Florida, as a tropical wave with a high chance
of strengthening into a more threatening storm was on a path that could
reach the state this weekend.

The declaration was for Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Calhoun, Charlotte,
Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin,
Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Holmes,
Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison,
Manatee, Marion, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Orange, Osceola, Pasco,
Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter,
Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton and Washington counties.

In the order, the governor said: ",,,based on meteorological reports, there
is a significant threat of heavy rainfall over most of the State of
Florida, with the possibility of at least twelve (12) inches of rainfall
over the next seven (7) days."

",,,prolonged heavy rainfall will result in flash flooding, river flooding,
coastal flooding, erosion, and gusty winds and these conditions could
damage the operational capability of critical infrastructure to include
major interstates and roadways, bridges, airports, schools, hospitals,
power grids, and other critical infrastructure," according to the order.

DeSantis' order said the incoming heavy rainfall, flooding, and gusty winds
will cause "widespread power outages due to downed trees and powerlines."

The governor has directed Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie to
coordinate the state's approach to the storm and any recovery operations.

The National Hurricane Center said the wave, called Invest 97L, caused
showers and thunderstorms over Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and the Southeastern
Bahamas on Thursday afternoon. Development of the system is expected to be
slow while it moves over parts of the Greater Antilles. But the hurricane
center said conditions are conducive for the storm to develop into a
tropical depression after clearing the Greater Antilles and move into the
eastern Gulf of Mexico this weekend or early next week.