Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declares state of emergency for possible major hurricane

Florida is preparing for the possibility of a major hurricane as Tropical Depression 9 edges closer to the state, causing Gov. Ron DeSantis to declare a state of emergency for 24 counties.  

Tropical Depression 9 developed early on Friday. Official forecasts expect it to turn into a Category 3 hurricane by next Wednesday, which could mean Floridians will be slammed by winds up to 130 mph. 

The track of the Tropical Depression is very similar to that of Hurricane Charley, which ravaged Florida in 2004, killing 15 people and causing more than $16 billion in damage. 

The Florida Keys and southern parts of the state are most likely to be in the crosshairs, though it is too early to tell where and when the storm will make landfall.

‘This storm has the potential to strengthen into a major hurricane and we encourage all Floridians to make their preparations,’ DeSantis said in his emergency declaration announcement.

He also said it ‘will make available important resources and support, as well as free up funding sources for emergency protective measure,’ along with activating the Florida National Guard.

‘We are coordinating with all state and local government partners to track potential impacts of this storm,’ the governor added.

The statement also warned Floridians ‘to begin preparing and ensuring their family emergency supply kit is ready and stocked with food, water, and medicine.’ 

It also said the possible hurricane has ‘the potential for dangerous storm surge, heavy rainfall, strong winds, flash flooding, and the potential for isolated tornadic activity.’

The storm is currently hovering over parts of the western Caribbean and several factors there including warm waters and moisture levels mean the storm could rapidly intensify from Sunday to Monday. 

Tropical storm and hurricane watches have also been issued for parts of the Caribbean, and a hurricane watch has been issued for the Cayman Islands while Jamaica has issues a tropical storm watch.

Flooding rains are possible in the area by Monday or Tuesday, the Weather Channel reported, which may cause mudslides in some areas of Jamaica or Cuba.

Storm surge floods of up to 3 feet above normal tides may occur in the Cayman Islands, and the Islands may see up to 14 inches of rain along with Jamaica.

As for naming, Hermine was the next name on the list but a different Tropical Depression may have already nabbed the name, leaving this one to be potentially called Ian.

Florida has fared better than usual in terms of hurricanes over the past few years, as nearby Louisiana has been battered repeatedly. The storm threatens to be Florida’s biggest issue since Hurricane Dorian three years ago. 

The storm also threatens to derail a NASA launch for a new moon rocket that has already experienced weeks of delays due to fuel leaks. 

Managers on Friday declared that the rocket is now ready to blast off on its first test flight, but teams will keep monitoring the forecast and decide by Saturday whether to delay the test flight and haul the rocket off the pad and back to the hangar. 

The preference is to remain at the launch pad and try for a Tuesday liftoff, ‘but there are still some uncertainties in the forecast,’ said NASA’s Tom Whitmeyer, deputy associate administrator for exploration systems.

Panic buying for food begins in Nova Scotia and locals pile sand bags high before 135 mph Hurricane Fiona makes landfall early Saturday as one of strongest storms EVER to hit Canada

Hurricane Fiona is expected to batter Canada‘s eastern coast early Saturday, and has been upgraded to a Category 4 storm as Canadians stock up on food and barricade their homes in preparation.

The hurricane is expected to touch down in Canada’s Nova Scotia, and also effect Prince Edward Island as well as Newfoundland.

It will bring wind speeds of up to 130 mph, relentless rain and a strong likelihood of flooding. 

The Canadian Hurricane Center has estimated the storm surges could be as deep as 6-8 feet and coastal waves as high as 40 feet in some areas, as Canadians brace for a storm stronger than any they’ve seen in 50 years. 

Canada’s government warns rain could exceed seven inches in areas of Fiona’s track and warned that ‘road washouts are possible’. They say residents should have enough supplies at home for 72 hours. 

‘All the ingredients are really there for some high water levels, flooding and potential damage,’ said meteorologist Rob Carroll, who added the storm surges will likely be the most damaging part of the storm.

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According to the most recent update from the Canadian Hurricane Center at 1 p.m. EST, the storm’s center was about 475 miles south of Halifax, Nova Scotia’s most populous city, and was moving northeast.

Chris Fogarty, manager of the Canadian Hurricane Center, told CNN Fiona has the potential to be ‘a landmark event for Canada in terms of intensity of a tropical cyclone.’

Extensive power outages may occur in Nova Scotia from the storm as they already have in Puerto Rico, and John Lohr of the Emergency Management Office of Nova Scotia said.

‘Impacts are projected to be felt across the province. Every Nova Scotian should be preparing today,’ he added.   

Utility company Nova Scotia Power created an Emergency Operations Center, which will act as a base of operations for the company to work on restoring power as quickly as possible. 

Canadians have been sharing ways to prepare for the effects of the storm including keeping ice in the house to keep food cold in case of a power outage and having extra batteries on hand. 

Immediate efforts should be taken to protect belongings. Avoid shorelines, waves are extremely dangerous. Residents in those regions should be prepared to move out if needed,’ read an emergency alert sent by officials in Prince Edward Island.

While Fiona is expected to weaken slightly before hitting mainland Canada, meteorologists warn it won’t be a significant slow and to keep treating the storm seriously. 

‘All that momentum is trapped within the storm, so it’s very difficult for something like that to actually wind down,’ Canadian Hurricane Centre meteorologist Bob Robichaud said.

‘It’s a major hurricane, and it’s only 900 kilometers away from us, and it’s getting bigger,’ he added.

‘We have been through these types of events before, but my fear is, not to this extent,’ Amanda McDougall, mayor of Cape Breton Regional Municipality said.

Hurricanes in Canada are somewhat rare, in part because once the storms reach colder waters, they lose their main source of energy. 

The storm has so far killed five people – two in Puerto Rico, two in the Dominican Republic and one in the French island of Guadeloupe.

Fiona then made its way to Bermuda where residents were seen boarding up windows and taking shelter before the hurricane’s arrival. 

Fiona hit the island on Thursday as a Category 4 storm, but despite being downgraded, the hurricane continues to threaten the Caribbean islands as it heads to Canada.

Before reaching Bermuda, Fiona caused severe flooding and devastation in Puerto Rico, leading President Joe Biden to say Thursday that the full force of the federal government is ready to help the United States territory recover. 

Speaking at a briefing with Federal Emergency Management Agency officials in New York, Biden said, ‘We’re all in this together.’

The president noted that hundreds of FEMA and other federal officials are already on the ground in Puerto Rico, where Fiona caused an island-wide blackout.

As of Thursday, more than one million homes and businesses were still without power, and more than 450,000 people remained without water service. 

Fortunately, the pace to restore power to homes is faster than efforts performed after Hurricane Maria hit in 2017 when all 1.5 million homes were without power for a week.

The now-bankrupt Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority took 11 months to restore power to all customers. LUMA Energy, which now presides over the island’s power, said ‘full restoration could take several days.’ 

In the Dominican Republic, meanwhile, more than a million people are without running water while just under 350,000 homes and businesses were without power as of Wednesday.

Maj. Gen. Juan Méndez García, director of the DR’s emergency operations center, told CNN that more than 600 homes had been destroyed while some communities are without access to aid.

President Biden announced Wednesday the approval of a major disaster declaration for the territory which will allow Puerto Ricans access to grants for temporary housing and home repairs in addition to low-interest loans to cover property losses.

‘This ensures that our people will have access to additional help from FEMA to recover from the damage caused by this event,’ Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi tweeted.

Complementing the president’s efforts, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has deployed staff from city agencies to help Puerto Rican officials survey the damage.