Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declares state of emergency as Hurricane Dorian gains strength

State of emergency declared by Florida Gov. DeSantis ahead of Hurricane Dorian

Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference, June 20, 2019, in Marathon, Florida.

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency Wednesday for all counties in the path of Hurricane Dorian.  

The decision by DeSantis comes as Florida appears to be directly in the path of the storm, which is forecast to make landfall as a Category 2 or Category 3 hurricane. 

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"It's important for Floridians on the East Coast to monitor this storm closely," said DeSantis. "Every Florida resident should have seven days of supplies, including food, water and medicine, and should have a plan in case of disaster. I will continue to monitor Hurricane Dorian closely with emergency management officials. The state stands ready to support all counties along the coast as they prepare."

Dorian officially strengthened into a hurricane Wednesday afternoon. 

As of 5 p.m., sustained winds from Hurricane Dorian reached 80 mph.

As its current pace, Dorian is forecast to begin impacting South Florida as soon as this weekend. 
Residents inside the forecast cone should ensure that they have their hurricane plan in place and not focus on the exact forecast track of Dorian's center.


About the Author:

David Dwork joined the WPLG Local 10 News team in August 2019. Born and raised in Miami-Dade County, David has covered South Florida sports since 2007.