Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order Tuesday declaring a state of emergency in 25 counties as a precaution due to a Gulf storm that has since become Hurricane Isaias.
A system in the Gulf was upgraded Wednesday evening to Hurricane Isaias, officially becoming the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season.
National Hurricane Center forecasters recommended that interests in the Yucatan Peninsula and the northern U.S. Gulf Coast closely monitor the system’s progress.
The executive order signed Tuesday by Governor DeSantis – EO 26-202 – declares a state of emergency in the following counties: Baker, Bay, Calhoun, Columbia, Dixie, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Suwannee, Taylor, Walton, Wakulla and Washington.
“Today, I signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency ahead of the potential impacts of Tropical Depression 9 (now Hurricane Isaias). This order will allow the Florida Division of Emergency Management to put critical preparedness resources in place and ensure Florida is prepared to respond,” DeSantis said in a statement. “Floridians should take this time to put emergency plans in place and ensure their hurricane supply kit is stocked.”
RESOURCES | HURRICANE SEASON SPECIAL | LONG RANGE FORECAST FOR WESH | WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT INSURANCE | GENERATOR CONFIGURATION | CHAINSAW TESTS | RESOURCES AFTER THE STORM | DOWNLOAD THE WESH 2 APP | HURRICANE SUPPLIES | SURVIVAL GUIDE
Follow the tropics
Stay with WESH 2 online and on-air for the most accurate weather forecasts in Central Florida.
Download the WESH 2 News app to receive the most recent weather alerts.
The First Warning Weather Team includes the Chief First Warning Meteorologist Tony Mainolfi, Eric Burris, Cam Tran, Victoria Wisniewski And Luc Vickery.
>> Hurricane season 2026 | Long-term WESH forecast
>> Download Very Local | Stream Central Florida news and weather from WESH 2
Gn usa
