TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Governor Ron DeSantis has issued a state of emergency after a line of strong and severe thunderstorms pushed across the Florida panhandle Friday morning, leaving a path of destruction from tornadoes and winds topping 70 miles per hour in some storms.
The state of emergency was issued for Baker, Columbia, Gadsden, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor, and Wakulla counties.
The executive order notes that those counties may need extra help with emergency funds following the disaster. "I direct that sufficient funds be made available, as needed, by transferring and expending moneys from the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund," the order reads.
The state of emergency is effective immediately and will expire in 60 days unless it is extended. You can read the full memorandum here.
As the storms rolled through Tallahassee, hundreds of trees toppled over or snapped in half. The Florida Division of Emergency Management said the storms followed the I-10 corridor and left not only destruction but widespread power outages.
Earlier Friday, more than 60,000 residents were reportedly without power due to the damage caused by the severe weather.
The frontal system that pushed through has been responsible for spawning tornadoes across the southeastern United States. Earlier in the week, tornadoes tore through parts of North Alabama and Southern Tennessee. Tornadoes were also reported in numerous other states, from Michigan to Texas.
In May, there were 129 preliminary reports of tornadoes across the United States. The 129 through the first 8 days of May followed the month of April, when 378 tornadoes were reported, according to AccuWeather.
According to the National Weather Service, 699 preliminary tornado reports have been filed in the United States so far this year, 150 more than the historical average for this point in the year.
A state report says hundreds of frail elderly nursing home residents were stacked side by side, head to toe in a small church with no working air conditioning or refrigerator during Hurricane Helene.
