FLORIDA –The disorganized tropical storm Erika has left at least 12 dead in the Caribbean, with others still missing, and is now aiming for the coast of Florida. Governor Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency Friday ahead of the storm, which is expected to remain a tropical storm when its forecasted to hit Florida Monday.

“We’ve got concerns all across the state now because it’s going to be coming clear across the state,” Scott told reporters. Forecasters say the storm is likely to strike the southern tip of Florida before traveling north of Tampa.

NBC News meteorologist, Bill Karins, expects the storm to weaken over it passes over the mountains in the Caribbean.

“Erika has chosen to move across the Caribbean islands in the most difficult path possible,” Karins said. “All those mountains will tear the storm apart.”

If the storm is weakened by the track it is currently on, there is a possibility of the storm being downgraded, but the air is volatile enough to make Erika hard to predict.

Still, state officials aren’t taking any chances.

Sources: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/weather/tropical-storm-erika-kills-least-dozen-caribbean-n417611