Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida in the southeastern United States, declared a state of emergency as Tropical Storm Ian, coming from the Caribbean Sea towards the state, approached.
 

DeSantis called on Florida residents to prepare for the storm, which was initially expected to affect only 20 counties, but the warning was issued on Saturday for the entire state.

He said, "This storm has the potential to become a major hurricane, and we encourage Florida residents to prepare," pointing to coordination with local government agencies to monitor potential impacts.

U.S. President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency for Florida and asked the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster relief efforts and provide the necessary assistance to protect lives and property.

The National Hurricane Center expects Ian to strengthen over the coming days, reaching Florida by midweek, and urged residents to monitor updates on the storm's path.

Ian is expected to become a major hurricane on Monday, with winds reaching 75 km/h on Saturday as recorded about 370 km south of Jamaica.

John Cangialosi from the Hurricane Center in Miami said it is not yet clear where Ian will strike hard in Florida, urging residents to gather supplies and prepare for potential power outages.