Hillsborough County continues to address the impacts of Hurricane Helene. County Administrator Bonnie Wise signed an executive order to extend the state of local emergency through January 13. This extension follows the initial declaration on September 23, allowing the county to quickly deploy resources to protect the community, as per a Hillsborough County release.
The county's directive, supported by its Emergency Management Ordinance and Chapter 252 of the Florida Statutes, ensures the county can respond to the storm's effects. Hillsborough County's announcement noted that states of local emergency typically last seven days unless an extension is approved, which the county has now done.
Federal assistance plays a key role in helping the county manage the financial impact of the disaster. The continued local emergency status enables Hillsborough County to seek federal reimbursement for certain storm-related expenses, aiding the long-term recovery process.
In addition to the state of emergency declared by Governor Ron DeSantis, Hillsborough County is also dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. This dual emergency situation requires a coordinated response from local and state emergency management systems to support recovery efforts.
