Florida Gov. Declared State of Emergency Ahead of Hurricane Gustav

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist declared a state of emergency in Florida that will allow Florida to respond proactively in providing mutual aid to neighboring Gulf Coast states.

As Hurricane Gustav moved north across the Gulf of Mexico, Florida opened shelters in Escambia, Walton and Santa Rosa counties to assist those evacuating from the storm’s path.

Today, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conversation Commission sent four seven-man search and rescue teams along with 22 shallow draft boats as part of a mutual aid assistance request.

The State of Emergency is for Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton, Washington, Franklin, Gadsden, Leon, Liberty and Wakulla counties; and for any host county sheltering evacuees, Crist said.

Source: Office of the Governor of Florida