WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — A state of emergency has been declared across dozens of counties in Florida in anticipation of Tropical Storm Hermine heading toward the state’s gulf coast, Governor Rick Scott announced on Thursday.
"Today, in preparation for Tropical Storm Hermine, I have ordered the closure of state offices and buildings in 51 counties at noon," Scott stated.
The governor noted that Florida’s State Emergency Operations Center and Emergency Response Team is prepared to respond to any impact from the storm.
Hermine could strengthen to a category 1 hurricane by the time it makes landfall early on Friday morning, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
On Wednesday, Scott signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency in 42 counties.
NOAA’s National Hurricane Center is expecting the storm to hit in Florida’s gulf coast and travel up the southern and mid-Atlantic seaboard.
