On Thursday afternoon, Governor DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 54 of Florida’s 67 counties ahead of 97-L making landfall on the Florida coast.

No Treasure Coast or Space Coast counties are listed. The following counties are currently under a state of emergency:

Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flag, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Golf, 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. John, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington Counties.

On August 1, 2024, a tropical wave, now known as Invest 97L, produced widespread rainfall and storms over Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands; And NOW, based on forecast reports, the National Weather Service is forecast to see and develop subtropical conditions over the Gulf of Mexico near portions of Florida this weekend and early next week; Based on forecast reports, there is a concern for heavy rainfall in the State of Florida with a chance of at least twelve (12) inches of rainfall over the next seven (7) days.

Prolonged heavy rainfall will result in flooding, river flooding, coastal flooding, erosion, and high winds; these factors could undermine the capacity of critical infrastructure, including major national highways, bridges, airports, schools, hospitals, electricity, and other critical infrastructure;

Groundwater levels in the affected areas have already reached maximum capacity, and heavy rainfall will cause river flooding that could last for weeks; you have seen that heavy rainfall, flooding, and high winds will cause major wildfires due to downed trees and wildfires; And as Governor of Florida, I am responsible for addressing the dangers that this emergency poses to the State of Florida and its citizens.