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ATLANTA — Gov. Brian Kemp ordered a State of Emergency for counties in Georgia within the path of Hurricane Milton on Tuesday.

The order comes the same day the governor extended a previous State of Emergency for areas affected by Helene.

The Milton State of Emergency will last until Oct. 16.

"I'm urging those who could be affected to prepare now," the governor posted on X.

Georgia's coast is currently under a tropical storm watch. Although the coast won't see direct landfall from Hurricane Milton, the area will experience some impacts as the hurricane crosses the Florida peninsula.

RELATED: Gov. Kemp extends State of Emergency for areas of Georgia affected by Helene

More on the storm

Hurricane Milton rapidly strengthened in the Gulf of Mexico, quickly becoming a Category 5 storm in a matter of hours on Monday as it moves toward Florida. The major hurricane threatens to bring a dangerous storm surge to Tampa Bay and surrounding areas on the peninsula's western coast and is setting the stage for potential mass evacuations.

Milton looms in the Gulf less than two weeks after a catastrophic Hurricane Helene swamped the coastline and killed more than 230 people throughout the southeastern United States, including in Georgia.