As Tropical Storm Erika approaches Florida, the state is taking necessary precautions for any possible situation.
Florida Governor Rick Scott spoke out regarding the storm early Thursday and warned Florida residents to be prepared.
“He warned Floridians to be alert and prepared for the storm, even if it drifts further out into the Atlantic Ocean,” the Orlando Sentinel reported.
The State Emergency Operations Center has been activated to a level two.
“The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) in Tallahassee activated to partial activation, as current forecast models now indicate Florida is within Tropical Storm Erika’s five-day cone of error,” a press release from the State Emergency Response Team said.
As of the 2 p.m. National Hurricane Center Advisory, Erika is 160 miles (255 kilometers) west of Guadeloupe with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h).
The advisory also stated that “tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km)
to the east of the center.”
“Two people have been confirmed dead by the Antigua Daily Observer. As many as 5 people are missing, the Associated Press reported, and at least 20 homes have been destroyed in the storm,” the National Weather Service reported.
KnightNews.com has asked the University of Central Florida if they’ve been monitoring the storm and what would happen with classes once the storm arrives.
Check back for UCF’s response and continued coverage on Tropical Storm Erika.
