Alabama, Mississippi activate National Guard ahead of Subtropical Storm Alberto

Alabama and Mississippi have activated their National Guards in preparation for Subtropical Storm Alberto, which is expected to make Landfall in Florida on Monday.

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant (R) authorized the use of the National Guard while Alabama National Guard activated its high water evacuation teams, CNN reported.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) declared a state of emergency for 40 counties on Sunday and activated the state’s emergency operation center, according to CNN.

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Florida’s Gov. Rick Scott (R) also declared a state of emergency in all of the state’s 67 counties on Saturday.

Alberto is expected to cause heavy rains in South Florida and the Florida Keys while a tropical storm watch is in effect for parts of Mississippi and Alabama. A more destructive storm could develop over the next 48 hours.

The storm is expected to gain strength as it moves up the Gulf of Mexico and could cause floods in Florida and parts of the Southeast, the National Hurricane Center said.

Alberto is the first major storm of the 2018 hurricane season, which doesn’t officially begin until June 1 and runs through the fall.

Last year’s hurricane season saw a number of major storms that caused major damage in Florida, Texas, Louisiana and Puerto Rico. Thousands in Puerto Rico are still without power months later, according to ABC News.