4 P.M. Tropical Storm Hermine strengthens; Bay schools to remain open Thursday
At
A tropical storm warning remains in effect for
Fanning Springs State Park,
The following state parks are closed until further notice:
Superintendent
"We have been working closely with the officials at the
In other announcements:
- The
-
-
The
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Below are earlier updates on storm preparedness:
Vice presidential nominee
A state of emergency was declared Wednesday for 42 counties in North and
Gov.
Scott warned that the system will bring the potential of lightning, tornadoes, flooding and standing water that could heighten the risk of the mosquito-borne Zika virus, which has been found across the state.
"We're going to see a lot of rain, we're going to see five to 10 inches of rain, potentially 15 inches of rain," Scott said after receiving a storm update at the state
Scott also warned Floridians to take precautions before, during and after the storm, which could be the first hurricane to hit the state in more than a decade.
"We're going to see downed power lines," Scott said.
Scott's announcement came after the
"By declaring a state of emergency in advance of this storm, we are ensuring that state, regional and local agencies can work together to meet the needs of our communities," Scott said.
"It will become a tropical storm today," Koon said Wednesday morning. "There is still a possibility that it can even become a Cat 1 hurricane."
A Category 1 hurricane has average wind speeds between 74 and 95 mph.
As of
The counties in Scott's order are:
The areas under the hurricane watch are between the
The
Right now the storm is slated to hit Florida as a tropical storm or a weak hurricane on Thursday. Floridians are urged to take the necessary precautions to get ready for the storm. Make sure you have your agent or insurance company's contact information readily available. PCI encourages policyholders to take a home inventory of what's inside their home by simply using a smart phone to document the items. If your home or automobile is damaged, call your insurer immediately. For information on storm readiness, visit PCI's Hurricane Headquarters page.
Gov.
Officials still expect the county to be on the drier side of the weather system.
Florida Gov.
Effective immediately, all developed recreation sites and the
Camp hosts may remain on site until an evacuation order is in place. However, forest visitors will be advised to leave. The sites will reopen for operations upon completion of a post-storm assessment of the site and facilities, and identified hazards are mitigated.
Check back later today for updates as they are available.
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