TALLAHASSEE Tropical Storm Beryl made landfall at 12:10 a.m. EDT Monday morning near Jacksonville Beach with winds estimated at 70 mph. The State Emergency Response Team continues to operate at a Level Two, partial activation, to support the needs of the impacted counties in response to the storm.

“Northeast Florida and the eastern Big Bend will continue to experience the impacts from Tropical Storm Beryl through Memorial Day, including rain and potential flooding,” said Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Bryan W. Koon in a prepared statement issued Monday. “Residents and visitors should take precautions post-landfall and continue to heed instructions of their local emergency management agency.”

At 5 a.m. EDT Monday, Tropical Storm Beryl was located about 20 miles west of Jacksonville. Maximum sustained winds have decreased to 50 mph and Beryl is expected to become a depression late tonight. Tropical Storm Warnings are now in effect north of Flagler Beach and for the Florida counties of Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, Flagler, Columbia, Baker, Clay, Putnam, Bradford, Union, Madison, Lafayette, Inland Taylor and Inland Dixie. Beryl is moving toward the west at 8 mph, but should slow down today while turning west-northwest, and then turn north late tonight through early Tuesday. The greatest threat with this system continues to be the threat for heavy rainfall.

RIP CURRENTS: Do not enter the water, always assume rip currents are present even if you don’t see them.

Turn Around, Don’t Drown: Do not drive into flooded roadways.

Avoid downed power lines.

Use caution when working with equipment when cleaning up after the storm.

For more information, contact your local county emergency management office. The Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1 November 30. To GET A PLAN visit www.FloridaDisaster.org. For the latest information on the 2012 Hurricane Season, follow us on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/flsert and on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/FloridaSERT. Beachgoers who want to learn more about rip currents can visit www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov.

Source: Florida Department of Emergency Management