Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency on Saturday in eight counties warning of the approaching impact of Tropical Storm Eta.
“We are closely monitoring #Eta as this system is expected to approach our state this weekend,” DeSantis said. “Residents in southern Florida should begin preparing for potential impacts, including heavy rain and flooding.”
We are closely monitoring #Eta as this system is expected to approach our state this weekend. Residents in southern Florida should begin preparing for potential impacts, including heavy rain and flooding. Gather 7 days of supplies and follow @FLSERT for updates. https://t.co/fbjsz1kKmJ
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) November 6, 2020
Eta landed its course across Cuba on Sunday and left dozens dead in Central America.
The National Hurricane Center reports Eta is about 280 miles south-southeast of Miami and is moving northeast at 12 mph. It has maximum sustained winds of 60 mph.
Florida Power & Light warned residents of power outages as the storm enters the state and warned people to stay away from flooded areas and downed power lines over safety concerns. Leading up to the storm, Floridians have been filing bags of sand in preparation for major flooding.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said the county opened its evacuation center on Saturday and issued a warning to residents to secure objects that wind could impact, NBC 6 of Miami reported.
“All residents should secure objects that winds could blow around, such as garbage carts, patio furniture, garden tools and toys,” the mayor’s office said in a press release.
Eta is expected to pass near or over the Florida Keys by Sunday night and enters deeper into the state early on Monday.
Amid a record-breaking hurricane season, NHC said the storm has the potential to develop its strength and status into a hurricane.
“Some weakening is possible after landfall in Cuba overnight, but Eta is forecast to re-strengthen later on Sunday and could be near hurricane strength as it approaches and moves near or over Florida,” the center said, as reported by CNN.
Even without making landfall, Eta has been a record-breaking storm, with the season seeing 28 tropical cyclones formed. Fifteen of those storms became hurricanes.
If Eta gains enough strength to become a hurricane prior to making landfall in the United States, it would break the record for most hurricanes to make U.S. landfall, becoming the seventh hurricane to arrive this year.
