President Trump on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Florida as it prepares for Hurricane Michael to make landfall later this week.
The emergency declaration, which is retroactive to Sunday, will provide additional federal assistance and resources to Florida in its preparation and recovery efforts. The measure also includes additional debris removal and emergency protective assistance to several counties that are expected to be hardest hit by the storm, including Gulf, Hamilton, Jackson, Jefferson, Madison and Suwannee.
{mosads}The Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will coordinate response efforts, according to Trump’s order.
Michael is expected to make landfall sometime Wednesday as a Category 3 hurricane. The Florida Panhandle along the Gulf Coast is expected to take the brunt of the storm.
Trump earlier Tuesday urged Floridians to heed warnings from their state and local officials, and cautioned that residents in Georgia and the Carolinas could be at risk for damage after the storm makes landfall.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) said during a press conference on Tuesday afternoon that he requested the federal disaster declaration during Trump’s visit to the state a day earlier for a law enforcement convention.
The governor, who earlier activated the state’s own emergency response, warned that the impending hurricane and its expected storm surge could be life-threatening for residents in certain parts of the state.
“Let me be clear, ” Scott said, as reported by local media. “Hurricane Michael is a monstrous storm, and we’re just hours away from seeing impacts. This is the most destructive storm to hit the Panhandle in decades. This storm could kill you.”
Scott, who is running for the Senate, temporarily suspended his campaign in light of the storm, as did his opponent, Sen. Bill Nelson (D).