On Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 22-255 (Amending Executive Order 22-253, Emergency Management – Tropical Storm Nicole), expanding the state of emergency to 11 additional counties including Alachua, Bradford, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hernando, Jefferson, Levy, Marion, Pinellas, Taylor, and Wakulla.
As of 10:00am, Nicole has strengthened into a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph, and is forecasted to be a hurricane before making landfall along Florida’s east coast. The threat posed by Tropical Storm Nicole requires that timely precautions are taken to protect the communities, infrastructure, and the general welfare of Florida.
The new executive order is below.
WHEREAS, on November 7, 2022, I issued Executive Order 22-253 and declared a state of emergency exists for thirty-four counties in Florida’s Peninsula due to then-Subtropical Storm Nicole; and
WHEREAS, as of 10:00 AM EST on November 9, 2022, Nicole had strengthened into a tropical storm and was approximately 210 miles easy of West Palm Beach, Florida, moving west with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph; and
WHEREAS, Tropical Storm Nicole is forecast to be a hurricane before making landfall along Florida’s East Coast tonight; and
WHEREAS, there is an increasing wind and flood threat to coastal and inland counties in Florida; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Division of Emergency Management, working together with the National Hurricane Center to evaluate weather predictions, has determined there is a continuing risk of dangerous storm surge, heavy rainfall, flash flooding, strong winds, hazardous seas, and isolated tornadic activity for much of Florida’s Peninsula and portions of the Florida Big Bend; and
WHEREAS, the threat posed by Tropical Storm Nicole requires that timely precautions are taken to protect the communities, critical infrastructure, and general welfare of Florida; and
WHEREAS, as Governor, I am responsible to meet the dangers presented to Florida and its people by this emergency.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RON DESANTIS, as Governor of Florida, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Article IV, Section l(a) of the Florida Constitution and by the Florida Emergency Management Act, as amended, and all other applicable laws, promulgate the following Executive Order, to take immediate effect:
Section1. Section 1 of Executive Order 22-253 is amended to include the following counties in the state of emergency: Alachua, Bradford, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hernando, Jefferson, Levy, Marion, Pinellas, Taylor, and Wakulla.
Section 2. Except as amended herein, Executive Order 22-253 is ratified and reaffirmed.
Section 3. This Order is effective immediately.
