Forecasters warned residents along Florida’s Gulf coast of potential Hurricane Helene, which is expected to form in the next 48 hours and track toward an area somewhere between Tampa and Pensacola late in the week.

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

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Florida Governor Ron Desantis declared a state of emergency on Monday ahead of a possible severe weather.