A hurricane watch is currently in effect for the entire Florida Panhandle, after Tropical Storm Karen formed off the coast of Cancun, Mexico Thursday morning. The storm is expected to become a hurricane Friday before making landfall near the Florida-Alabama border as a tropical storm early Sunday morning.
Rainfall in the Panhandle is expected to reach in excess of six inches, with localized flooding of rivers and bays. Tornadoes are also possible near the center of the storm.
Florida Division of Emergency Management Meteorologist Bradley Schaaf says residents should spend the next 48 hours getting prepared, and shouldn't take the storm lightly.
"We’re asking residents to make sure that their hurricane supply kits are ready to go", Schaaf said. "That includes food, water which is one gallon per person per day for at least 72 hours, fresh batteries for their weather radios."
Meanwhile, the Florida National Guard is on standby, ready to send in troops if needed.
There are about 2,000 full-time federal guard members, and half of them are currently furloughed.
Guard Captain Melissa DeLeon says the partial government shutdown is slowing their preparation efforts for Tropical Storm Karen.
"We will be affected. Our maintenance guys have been furloughed, so they are currently not here", DeLeon explained. "In normal operations we would be maintaining equipment right now, and we can’t do that, since those soldiers have been furloughed."
State emergency managers are working with the National Guard to fund the positions in the short term with state money and later apply for reimbursement from the federal government. Either way, the Guard says they will be ready to do whatever they are asked.
Florida has not been directly hit by a hurricane since Wilma hit Collier County in 2005.