Governor Rick Scott Delcares State of Emergency
Monday, June 25, 2012
By: Mark Simpson

June 25, 2012 | WMFE - Earlier this afternoon Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency as Tropical Storm Debby approaches the state's west coast. The Governor cancelled his earlier scheduled events to make the announcement in Tallahassee.

Tropical storm warnings are posted for Okaloosa, Calhoun, Bay, Franklin, Gulf, Liberty, Levy, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, and Charlotte Counties.

Coastal parts of Walton, Wakulla, Jefferson, Dixie, and Taylor Counties also are under threat of tropical weather and are under a tropical storm warning.

The state of emergency activates state Emergency Operations Center and the Florida National Guard. It also gives the Florida Department of Transportation the option of suspending tolls as needed, and makes public facilities such as elementary schools, secondary schools, community colleges, and state universities available to local emergency managers as shelters if needed.

Over the next few days Debby is expected to move across the Florida peninsula gradually weaking by Thursday and Friday into a tropical depression.

So far the storm has brought heavy bands of rain to Florida, as well as gusty winds. Five Tornadoes were reported Sunday according to the National Weather Service, located in Melebourne.  Power outages have been reported

90.7 News will be following this weather event as it unfolds.

Please check back for updates.

You can see the National Hurricane Center's forecasts HERE.