TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday expanded a declared state of emergency to 61 of the state's 67 counties with only some counties in Southeast Florida excluded as Tropical Storm Helene heads toward Florida and is expected to rapidly grow into a powerful hurricane Wednesday in the Gulf of Mexico.

What does it mean when the governor of a state declares a state of emergency? When it's a storm like the soon-to-be-Helene, things start moving fast.

With about two months to go until the end of the season, the state of Florida is preparing for another storm, this one forecasted to undergo rapid intensification and potentially turn into a major hurricane as it crosses the Gulf of Mexico.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that the executive order for a state of emergency now spans 61 counties, including Central Florida.

Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order Monday declaring a state of emergency for parts of Florida ahead of Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine.

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - Governor Ron DeSantis declared a State of Emergency on Monday morning. The declaration comes while the Gulf Coast of Florida prepares for a potential hurricane.

Declaring a state of emergency allows state and local governments much more freedom to coordinate their emergency agencies.

TALLAHASSEE—Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday expanded Florida's state of emergency to 61 of 67 counties in preparation for the soon-to-be Hurricane Helene, whose

This system is forecast to become a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico before making landfall along the Florida Panhandle.