This morning, Governor Ron DeSantis issued updates on Hurricane Ian at the State Emergency Operations Center and the Sarasota County Emergency Operations Center with Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie.
Ian became a Category 3 hurricane early this morning and continues to rapidly intensify as it emerges over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico later this morning. Hurricane Ian will pass west of the Florida Keys later today, and approach the West Coast of Florida on Wednesday.
Mandatory Evacuation Orders have been issued for select areas, including coastal communities, mobile homes and low-lying areas in several counties.