Alabama, Florida and Mississippi were preparing for states of emergency on Sunday as Subtropical Storm Alberto headed toward the Gulf of Mexico. Florida Gov. Rick Scott issued the declaration for all 67 counties in his state. Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant authorized the use of the National Guard, his office said in a statement, CNN reported. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey issued a state of emergency for 40 counties, starting at 6 a.m. Sunday. Ivey activated the state’s emergency operations center while the Alabama National Guard activated its high water evacuation teams. Alberto is expected to produce heavy rainfall and flooding over western Cuba, southern Florida and the Florida keys, the National Hurricane Center said Sunday morning. “Heavy rains and gusty winds continue to spread northward over Florida,” it tweeted. “Hazardous storm surge is possible along portions of the central and eastern Gulf Coast beginning Sunday.” The first named storm of this season, Alberto is expected to strengthen as it moves up the Gulf this weekend, the National Hurricane Center said, bringing heavy rains and possible floods to Florida and much of the Southeast in the coming days.
