Biden approves emergency declaration of Tropical Storm Nicole
Misty Severi
Video Embed
President Joe Biden approved a declaration of emergency in Florida on Wednesday after Tropical Storm Nicole is expected to strengthen to a Category 1 hurricane and make landfall later in the day.
The order allows the Department of Homeland Security, and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate all disaster relief efforts related to the storm, including identifying, mobilizing, and providing equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency, the White House said.
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) issued a state of emergency for 34 counties in the state on Monday, and nearly 4 million people along Florida’s east coast are under hurricane warnings. Mandatory evacuation orders have been declared in four counties, with voluntary evacuations encouraged in six additional counties as of Wednesday.
“People in impacted areas should continue to pay attention as the storm progresses,” DeSantis said Wednesday. “The combined winds and storm surge will contribute to continued beach erosion in areas that have already seen erosion from Hurricane Ian.”
Nicole update
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The storm, which has winds topping 70 mph as of Wednesday morning, would be the second hurricane to hit Florida in a six-week period and the first hurricane to hit the United States in November in 37 years, according to CNN. However, it is not expected to be nearly as damaging as Hurricane Ian was in September.
After striking eastern Florida, the storm is expected to move across northern Florida to Georgia and possibly the Carolinas on Thursday and Friday, according to the National Hurricane Center.