TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—As Hurricane Elsa gains momentum, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency in Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota counties.

“Elsa is tracking northward through the Gulf of Mexico and will bring heavy rain, strong winds gusts, storm surge and isolated tornadoes to Florida through Wednesday,” Weather.com reports. “Elsa will then spread some of its impacts up the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic coasts into late week.”

Because of the storm’s intensity, the governor’s executive order authorized a waiver for hours-of-service requirements for motor carriers or drivers operating commercial motor vehicles participating in emergency relief efforts through the transportation of equipment and supplies or providing other assistance in the form of emergency services. The Florida executive order expires on August 2.

NACS resources are available to help convenience retailers develop or enhance their disaster planning procedures. The Convenience Store Emergency Planning and Job Aids are designed to help convenience retailers quickly and efficiently determine the best course of action for their teams to plan for an emergency and resume operations quickly and safely.

For more emergency planning resources, NACS Magazine articles and Convenience Matters podcast episodes, visit the Disaster and Emergency Preparedness page.

Not a NACS Magazine or NACS Daily subscriber? Subscribe to NACS Magazine in a print and/or digital format to read the latest insights from industry thought leaders each month. Subscribe to NACS Daily to receive a roundup of industry news and trends in your inbox each weekday. Subscriptions to NACS Magazine and NACS Daily are complimentary for readers in the convenience retailing industry—you just need to sign up!