TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Governor Ron DeSantis spoke at the State Emergency Operations Center on Sunday as Hurricane Milton sets its sights on Florida.
Joined by Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie, DeSantis talked about state preparedness efforts, including his declaration of a state of emergency in 51 Florida counties.
The governor said the State Emergency Response Team is engaged in over 450 missions to assist counties in their preparedness efforts, including tasks like staging resources for deployment following the storm and protecting infrastructure like hospitals and utility stations.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is also reading high-water vehicles for deployment to assist in the event of damage or flooding, Desantis said.
Milton could reach Category 3 major hurricane strength with 115 mph winds as it heads toward Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Mandatory evacuations in Tampa Bay have begun ahead of Hurricane Milton’s anticipated landfall.
You can watch the full press conference on this page.