Tropical Storm Elsa Made Landfall in Florida, Travelling Up Coast Into Tonight

Tropical Storm Elsa made landfall in Florida earlier today. About 10,000 customers were already without power in the state this morning. Duke Energy has staged 3,000 utility crew members, contractors, tree specialists and other personnel throughout the state with additional line workers and other personnel were brought in from the Carolinas, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. More than 13 million people are under a Tropical Storm Warning across parts of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. Elsa will drop around 3 to 9 inches of rain in the western and northern part of Florida. The U.S. Coast Guard  rescued 15 people from Key West and 9 people are still believed to be missing.

Florida Governor Ron Desantis expanded his state of emergency declaration to include 33 counties. The National Guard activated 60 guardsmen and is prepared to activate more for storm relation operations including high water rescues and humanitarian assistance. Shelters were also opened in at least 5 counties and two counties issued voluntary evacuation orders.