New Port Richey declares local state of emergency ahead of Hurricane Helene

The New Port Richey City Council adopted a local state of emergency on Sept. 23, 2024, citing the anticipated impacts of Hurricane Helene and a statewide declaration by Governor Ron DeSantis (Order 24-208).

Mayor Davis told the council and audience that the area was under a hurricane watch and urged residents and city staff to make preparations, saying, "We are under a hurricane watch... So we're calling upon everyone to to make preparations because we are, under a hurricane watch." A staff member reading the resolution said the document would be finalized with the effective date of Sept. 23, 2024, and the governor's order number, 24-208.

After no members of the public offered comment, a council member moved to approve the emergency-declaration resolution; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously, recorded as four ayes and no opposing votes with one council member excused.

Council members also considered contingency planning for a scheduled budget meeting. A staff member recommended the council authorize the city manager to postpone the budget meeting set for Sept. 26, 2024, at 6 p.m. if city hall is closed because of the storm, noting that the budget-adoption statute provides for this type of postponement. The council approved that authorization by voice vote, recorded as four ayes.

The council did not take other action on the budget itself at the Sept. 23 session. The meeting moved on to routine communications after the votes; no additional items were raised. The council's actions put local emergency protocols and contingency scheduling in place as forecasts for Hurricane Helene continued to evolve.