JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency Saturday in all 67 Florida counties as the state to monitors and prepares for Subtropical Storm Alberto. The state of emergency gives state and local governments ample time, resources and flexibility to get prepared for this storm.
“As we continue to monitor Subtropical Storm Alberto’s northward path toward Florida, it is critically important that all Florida counties have every available resource to keep families safe and prepare for the torrential rain and severe flooding this storm will bring," Scott said in a statement Saturday.
Recommended Videos
The Florida National Guard has 5,500 guard members on stand-by for deployment if needed.
The governors Alabama and Mississippi also declared states of emergency ahead of the storm as the three states prepare for arrival of the first storm of the 2018 hurricane season, a slow-moving system expected to cause wet misery across the eastern Gulf Coast over the holiday weekend.
Cuba was being pounded by rain along its western coast, raising the threat of flash floods and mudslides. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said the island’s rain totals could reach 10 to 15 inches -- and even 25 inches in isolated areas.
Heavy downpours were expected to begin lashing parts of Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama on Sunday. Tropical storm warnings have been issued for parts of Florida and Alabama, saying tropical storm conditions are possible there by early Monday.
About 5 to 10 inches of rain are possible along affected areas in eastern Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, western Tennessee and the western Florida Panhandle. Isolated areas could see as much as 15 inches.
LATEST FORECAST/PATH: Tracking Alberto
EXPLAINER: Why is Alberto only subtropical?
READ: Lifeguards warn of rip currents over holiday weekend
Under overcast skies and occasional drizzle, Eddy Warner, a retired consultant for a construction company, filled sandbags bags while waiting for his nephew to come help transport them home to protect his garage.
“I’m 65 years old and too old to be doing this,” he said, laughing.
Alberto — the first named storm of the 2018 hurricane season that officially starts June 1 — is expected to strengthen until it reaches the northern Gulf Coast, likely on Monday afternoon.
The NWS said waves as high as 18 feet could pound the popular Gulf beaches in Baldwin County, Alabama, and northwestern Florida on Monday. A high surf warning was in effect through 7 p.m. Tuesday local time.
A subtropical storm like Alberto has a less defined and cooler center than a tropical storm, and its strongest winds are found farther from its center. Subtropical storms can develop into tropical storms, which in turn can strengthen into hurricanes.
A tropical storm warning remained in effect for Cuba’s western Pinar del Rio province, where heavy rains could trigger flash floods and mudslides, the National Hurricane Center said.
Mexico canceled its watch for the resort-dotted coast of the Yucatan peninsula, where the storm brought heavy rain. There were no immediate reports of emergencies. In Cancun, local newspapers showed scenes of some streets flooded to mid-hubcap level.
The downpours could dampen Memorial Day, the unofficial start of the summer tourist season along Gulf beaches. Along with heavy rains and high winds come rough seas and a threat of rip currents from Florida to Louisiana that can sweep swimmers out to sea.
Here are some other precautions the state of Florida is taking ahead of the storm.
LAW ENFORCEMENT
• The Florida Highway Patrol is monitoring the storm and standing-by to assist with any weather- related missions.
• The FHP has prepared two Quick Response Force teams comprised of 66 State Troopers to deploy quickly to any area of the state of Florida that may need assistance.
• On May 22, at Governor Scott’s direction, The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) began to pre-position and stage its high-water vehicles and all other flood response resources so they may be rapidly deployed to assist Floridians in need in the event of any flooding.
• FWC Officers in all 67 Florida counties have been placed on a heightened alert status, in anticipation of heavy rains and flooding because of Subtropical Storm Alberto. High water vehicles and shallow draft vessels in all Florida counties have been readied for immediate deployment to affected areas.
• FDLE is coordinating with local law enforcement agencies and emergency operations centers, identifying protective actions in advance of the storm.
TRANSPORTATION & PUBLIC WORKS
• The Florida Department of Transportation is monitoring for roadway flooding in areas already impacted by heavy rains and is ready to respond as needed.
POWER AND UTILITIES
• The state has contacted utilities to put them on notice to start reporting outage and restoration information if needed.
• The state is monitoring the power grid for sufficient power in the state.
• The state is monitoring the natural gas infrastructure for any damages that can cause a loss of service to power plants.
FUEL
• The state has contacted fuel industry partners, such as the Florida Petroleum Council, Florida Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association, to prepare for potential storm impacts.
• The state has also contacted emergency fuel and equipment provider for status of emergency fuel supply and equipment.
• The state is monitoring fuel industry and anticipating impacts and disruptions.
SHELTERS
• The state is preparing to support local sheltering operations if needed. More information on shelters will be made available as decisions on potential evacuations are made.
PUBLIC HEALTH AND MEDICAL
• The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) and the Florida Department of Health (DOH) are standing by to assist healthcare facilities if needed.
• DOH has been actively reaching out to Special Needs Shelter Consultants and County Health Department Directors to with updates and preparedness information.
• The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) is closely monitoring the storm and regularly sharing information with waiver support coordinators and providers to ensure they are prepared.
• The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs (FDVA) operates six skilled nursing facilities and one assisted living facility. All state veterans’ homes are currently operational.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
• All Florida State Parks remain open at this time. Park staff are prepared to evacuate campgrounds and close parks as necessary to ensure visitor safety. Visitors can visit https://www.floridastateparks.org/content/storm-update for updates.
• The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has reached out to high-priority regulated facilities to remind them of storm preparations they should be making, and has issued an emergency final order to ensure recovery efforts are not hampered or delayed.
• The current condition of the state’s beaches has been assessed, which will expedite post-storm assessments.
• An online tool for the public to report the location of storm debris in waterways has been deployed.
WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS
• Water Management Districts are monitoring waterways and water levels, preparing staff and vehicles, and are prepared to adjust flows as necessary.
• Lake Okeechobee is currently at 13.75 feet and is being continuously monitored by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, which manages Lake Okeechobee water levels.
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY
• The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) has activated the Private Sector Hotline at 850-815-4925. The hotline is available for business inquiries about the storm, preparedness information and post-impact information.
• Through Visit Florida’s partnership with Expedia, www.expedia.com/Florida has been activated to provide accommodations availability information for visitors, residents and first responders.
INSURANCE
• OIR is prepared to order property insurers to submit claims information from Subtropical Storm Alberto, if necessary.
• OIR has updated its Hurricane Season Resources webpage, which contains links to resources from the Governor, Chief Financial Officer, Attorney General, Commissioner of Agriculture, Division of Emergency Management, Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Flood Insurance Program, and contact information for Florida’s property insurers.
• In accordance with the Governor’s Executive Order, OIR has notified all health insurers, managed care organizations and other health entities of their statutory obligation to allow for early prescription refills during a state of emergency.
• The Florida Department of Financial Services’ Division of Consumer Services has resources for consumers seeking to file insurance complaints HERE.
VOLUNTEER EFFORTS
• Volunteer Florida is encouraging visitors to connect with the emergency management network in Florida to receive updates.
• Florida’s Community Emergency Response Teams are on standby to assist with sheltering needs.
CONTACTS
• The State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) contact number is 1-800-342-3557.
• The State Emergency Operations Center Media Line: 850-921-0217.
• Follow @FLSert or @FLGovScott on Twitter for live updates on Subtropical Storm Alberto.
• Visit http://www.floridadisaster.org to find information on shelters, road closures, and evacuation routes.