Severe storms that included tornadoes caused damage Tuesday in Northwest Florida and had knocked out power to more than 87,000 homes, businesses and other utility customers in the state as of mid-day.
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency for 49 counties. During an early afternoon news conference, he said Department of Transportation crews were clearing downed trees along Interstate 10 in Walton and Holmes counties.
“Utility crews are actively working to restore these (power) accounts as the weather clears,” DeSantis said at the state Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee.
State Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie said authorities had received reports of injuries, including Bay County reporting five head-trauma injuries, but no confirmed deaths.
“There (are) some rumors out there, and again right now we'll have to say that they are rumors,” Guthrie said.
The storm slammed areas, such as Bay County and Jackson County, that were devastated by Hurricane Michael in 2018. News reports said people were injured by a tornado in the Marianna area of Jackson County. Also, other areas of North Florida affected by the storm are still recovering from August’s Hurricane Idalia.
Guthrie said bayfront areas in Bay County, continuing to rebuild after Hurricane Michael, “just got smacked again.”
Guthrie said the storm might not reach a threshold to qualify for Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance, but will likely receive a declaration from the Small Business Administration.
“Bay County and (Panama City) is a very resilient community. I'm sure they're going to bounce back,” Guthrie said. “We're going to be there. The governor has already mentioned we're going to be there as long as it takes to help them recover and make sure that they have the resources necessary.”
DeSantis issued the state of emergency just before giving his State of the State address to open the 2024 legislative session.
“We’ve had a lot of weather move through Northwest Florida, we’ve issued an executive order to declare a state of emergency,” DeSantis said as he opened the address. “We just do what we do in Florida. We respond when these things happen. So, those folks that have been impacted, just know, the state of Florida, stands with you and will handle whatever fallout is from these dangerous tornadoes.”
All state buildings in Tallahassee were closed Tuesday, except the Capitol, because of the storm, which was part of a low pressure system moving across the eastern U.S.
The executive order directed Guthrie to oversee the storm response, which includes seeking federal assistance, and activated the Florida National Guard. The order also opened the state Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund, which the governor oversees, to be available where needed.