- April 22, 2024
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Gov. Ron DeSantis has activated 2,500 members of the National Guard for hurricane response, and has placed another 1,500 members on standby. Fifteen urban search and rescue teams are also on standby.
“As Hurricane Dorian continues to grow and intensify, we are preparing all available state resources,” DeSantis said, according to a news release from the governor's office.
DeSantis visited the National Hurricane Center in Miami, as well as the Emergency Operations Centers in Brevard and Duval counties, on Thursday, Aug. 29, according to the news release.
As of Thursday evening, Aug. 29, the National Hurricane Center's tracking map continued to show Hurricane Dorian making landfall in the east-central Florida area, near Fort Pierce, as a Category 4 hurricane.
However, "Users are reminded to not focus on the exact forecast track, as typical forecast errors at days 4 and 5 are around 155 and 205 miles, respectively," an NHC update warns.
The hurricane continues to move northwest at 11 knots, and is expected to be near or over the Bahamas over the weekend, and continue toward Florida, strengthening in a "steady intensification" as it heads over open warm water. It is expected to become a major hurricane on Friday, Aug. 30.
"There is an increasing likelihood of life-threatening storm surge along portions of the Florida east coast late this weekend or early next week, although it is too soon to determine where the highest storm surge will occur," the NHC message states.
Heavy rain is also expected.
Here's what the state government is doing in addition to preparing for a National Guard response, according to the news release:
