Division of Emergency Management monitors storm threat

The Florida Division of Emergency Management is monitoring a storm that is threatening to hit Florida sometime early next week, but it has not yet activated its Emergency Operations Center.

The storm currently known as Invest 99-L has the potential to don the name Hermine as it moves toward the Caribbean in the coming days. Predictions show the storm could hit Florida on Tuesday.

DEM spokesman Aaron Gallaher said Floridians should always be prepared in the event a storm hits the state.

Gov. Rick Scott has been in daily contact with DEM Director Bryan Koon on the movement of the storm.

“We are entering the period the National Hurricane Center has historically considered to be the most active part of hurricane season," Koon said.  Now more than ever, it´s very important to have a plan in place for yourself, your family, and your workplace or business, and for you to be prepared to follow your plan should severe weather impact your area.¨

National Weather Service officials have predicted that this year’s storm season, which reaches its height in late August to early September, as being more active than one in 2012. That was the same year Tropical Storm Isaac threatened to slam Tampa during the Republican National Convention there.

Invest 99-L is forming behind Tropical Storm Gaston, which was expected to reach hurricane status on Wednesday as it veers in the Atlantic toward the island of Bermuda.

The next step for Invest 99-L tropical depression status. If it strengthens from there, it will be classified as Tropical Storm Hermine. Weather maps have the storm traveling over the Straits of Florida and possibly impacting the southern tip of the state.