MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Members of the Press

FROM:            Taryn Fenske, Director of Communications, Governor Ron DeSantis

DATE:             July 3, 2021

RE:                  Executive Order 21-150 (Emergency Management – Tropical Storm Elsa)

_________________________________________________________________________

Good afternoon:

Today, Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 21-150 regarding Tropical Storm Elsa, expected to make landfall in Florida early next week. This issues a State of Emergency to all of the following counties:

Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota.

A copy of Executive Order 21-150 can be found here.

Sincerely,

Taryn Fenske

Director of Communications

Governor Ron DeSantis

_________________________________________________________________________

STATE OF FLORIDA

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR 

EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 21-150

(Emergency Management – Tropical Storm Elsa)

WHEREAS, as of 8:30 AM EDT on July 2, 2021, the National Hurricane Center reported that Tropical Storm Elsa had strengthened into a Category 1 Hurricane; and

WHEREAS, as of 8:00 AM EDT on July 3, 2021, Hurricane Elsa was located 110 miles southeast of Isla Beata, Dominican Republic; and

WHEREAS, as of 11:30 AM EDT on July 3, 2021, Elsa slightly decreased in strength and was redesignated to a Tropical Storm.

WHEREAS, the National Hurricane Center reported Elsa has maximum sustained winds of almost 75 miles per hour and could restrengthen once in the Gulf of Mexico to return to hurricane strength; and

WHEREAS, the National Hurricane Center predicts Elsa could affect the Florida Keys and portions of the South Florida Peninsula as early as Monday; and

WHEREAS, there is a risk of dangerous storm surge, heavy rainfall, flash flooding, strong winds, hazardous seas, and the potential for isolated tomadic activity for the Florida Keys and much of Florida’s Peninsula; and

WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County is currently under a state of emergency for the structural collapse of a residential condominium located at 8777 Collins Avenue in Surfside, Florida which has resulted in multiple fatalities and approximately 126 people unaccounted for; and

WHEREAS, the threat posed by Elsa requires that timely precautions are taken to protect the communities, critical infrastructure, and general welfare of Florida; and

WHEREAS, as Governor, I am responsible to meet the dangers presented to Florida and its people by this emergency.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RON DESANTIS, as Governor of Florida, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Article IV, Section l(a) of the Florida Constitution and by the Florida Emergency Management Act, as amended, and all other applicable laws, promulgate the following Executive Order, to take immediate effect.

Continue reading the full Executive Order here.

###