10 years to the day after hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency as Tropical Storm Erika neared the Florida coast.
The storm could hit the peninsula as early as Sunday morning according to the latest forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Scott made the declaration shortly after forecasters adjusted the trajectory of the storm earlier in the day to show that it’s forecast to go through the middle of the state.
Scott’s order states that Erika “poses a severe threat to the entire state.”
The order means the National Guard is now activated and gives authorities the ability to waive tolls and rules to facilitate movement of emergency services throughout the state.
It has been 10 full years since a hurricane hit the state. The most current forecasts show that Erika will continue to be a tropical storm when it makes landfall.
Erika has killed at least four people in Puerto Rico as of late Friday. Its currently moving at 17 mph with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph.
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