Because of  "significant threat of storm surge, coastal flooding and erosion, heavy rainfall and flash flooding, and damaging winds to the Florida Gulf Coast" and above-normal water table and river levels from Hurricane Debby,  Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for 41 Florida counties ahead of Tropical Cyclone Nine, which is forecast to become Hurricane Helene later this week.

Declaring a state of emergency allows state and local governments to speed up assistance to communities by making funding, shelter and other resources immediately available to those in need and lifting regulatory statutes.

Sandbag operations are opening in both Sarasota and Manatee counties this week in preparation for the storm, which could bring 4 to 6 inches of rain to our region, adding to the 50-plus inches of rain we've already received over the past three months.