9/19/2017

Gov. Scott Issues Updates on Continued Hurricane Irma Response Efforts

TAMPA, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott visited the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office to thank local law enforcement, emergency management officials and first responders for their commitment to Florida families before, during and after Hurricane Irma. He will also be meeting with local officials in Orange Park to discuss recovery efforts in Northeast Florida after Hurricane Irma.

EMERGENCY SUPPORT FUNCTIONS BY STATE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

• Flood warnings are in effect across the state. To see      the most current advisories in your county, click HERE.

POWER AND UTILITIES

• The current power outage as of 12:00 p.m. is more than      194,000 accounts. For a full breakdown, click HERE.      Since the height of power outages, 6.7 million on Monday, power has been      restored to more than 6.5 million accounts, which is how utility companies      measure each Florida home or business. 97 percent of all outages have      been restored by more than 30,000 restoration personnel across Florida –      the largest power restoration undertaking in history for a single state.
• Do not try to handle downed power lines. Contact your      local utility company to report it.
• Tampa Electric

• Tampa Electric has restored power to the 730,000       customers affected by the storm.

• Florida Power and Light
• In total, 4.4 million customers were impacted by the       storm. Power has been restored to 4,345,200 customers.

• Duke Energy
• More than 1.3 million customers were impacted by the       storm. Power has already been restored to more than 1.25       million customers.

• Gulf Power
• Gulf Power has restored power to the 13,000 customers       affected by the storm.

• Florida Electric Cooperatives Assoc.
• More than 760,000 customers were impacted by the       storm. Power has already been restored to more than 754,000       customers.

• Municipal Utilities
• More than 800,000 customers were impacted by the       storm. Power has already been restored to more than 784,000       customers.

FUEL

• Governor Scott is taking aggressive efforts to expedite      refueling statewide. For more information, please click HERE.
• Port Everglades, Port Canaveral, Port of Jacksonville,      and Port of Tampa are actively accepting fuel. The Florida Highway Patrol      has troopers dedicated to escorting fuel resupply trucks as needed.
• Since September 6^th, Governor Scott has      taken the following actions to expedite fuel delivery to gas stations:
• Directed the Florida Highway Patrol to escort fuel       resupply trucks to gas stations;
• Directed law enforcement to provide escorts to fuel       station employees in evacuation zones so stations could stay open as long       as possible before landfall to serve Floridians;
• Waived the import taxes on fuel entering the state;
• Waived weight and driver restrictions for highways so       water, food, fuel and emergency supplies could be quickly brought to       Florida and moved throughout the state;
• Governor Scott and executive office staff have held       daily calls with all fuel supply stakeholders, including Florida Ports;
• Vice President Pence announced that the federal       government has waived the Jones Act upon Governor Scott’s request which       waives additional rules and regulations to allow more fuel to get to       Florida fast. This waiver ensures that all options are available to       distribute fuel to Florida. The last Jones Act waiver was issued in       December 2012, for petroleum products to be delivered for relief       assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy;
• Following the Governor’s request, 12 states joined       Florida in waiving weight and driver restrictions to move goods more       quickly into the state, including fuel; and
• Following the Governor’s request, The Environmental       Protection Agency (EPA) has approved an emergency fuel waiver which       allows more fuel to quickly enter the state. For more information, please       click HERE

LAW ENFORCEMENT

• FWC has more than 160 officers statewide focused on      hurricane response, including responding to flooding events, security      patrols, welfare checks, road debris clearance, and supporting      humanitarian efforts such as handing out cases of water and meals ready to      eat (MRE’s).
• In addition to officers stationed in the Keys, the FWC      has an additional 41 officers in Monroe county working with National Guard      members as well as other first responders on Urban Search missions,      welfare checks and humanitarian efforts.
• FWC is working with the United States Coast Guard and      local governments to expedite the removal of derelict vessels, especially      those hindering navigation, impacting commerce and posing a threat to the      environment by assessing all vessels in coastal counties impacted by      Hurricane Irma. A team of 13 environmental investigators are traveling to      Monroe county to evaluate the large number of vessels impacted.
• As a result of the Governor’s Executive Order, the      Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) is waiving      certain driver license and motor vehicle service fees for individuals      impacted by Hurricane Irma.
• To assist with area law enforcement and traffic safety,      FHP has 40 troopers assigned to Collier County, 12 troopers assigned to      Monroe County, six troopers assigned to Key West Police Department and six      troopers assigned to Everglades City Police. Troopers continue to assist      utility crews in Collier, Desoto and Lee Counties with security escorts to      expedite work restoring power to residents.
• FHP continues to provide multiple escorts to the      Florida Keys to ensure the quick delivery of relief supplies, such as food      to local supermarkets, portable toilets, water and resources with the Red      Cross.
• DHSMV has deployed six Florida Licensing on Wheels      (FLOW) Mobiles to provide credentialing services to customers impacted by      Irma in Collier and Lee counties. Yesterday, DHSMV issued 71 driver      licenses/ID cards, reinstated or updated 22 credentials, issued 86 motor      vehicle registrations and updated the emergency contact information for 33      customers. Today, FLOW mobiles are in Naples, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres,      Bonita Springs and North Fort Myers.

MILITARY SUPPORT

• There are 1,200 Florida National Guard members      activated and continuing to assist with recovery efforts across the state.
• Florida Guardsmen are actively operating at Points of      Distribution (PODs) throughout Florida to ensure supplies are being      quickly provided to those who need them.

SHELTERS

• 37 shelters are open throughout Florida with a total      population of more than 2,800 individuals. 9 special needs shelters are      open with a total population of 503 individuals. This number is being      updated throughout the day. Visit      floridadisaster.org/shelters/summary.aspx to find information on shelters      in your area.
• To find information about available shelter information      by county, visit floridadisaster.org/shelters.      FEMA is also hosting shelter information on its mobile app which can be      found at fema.gov/mobile-app.

TRANSPORTATION & PUBLIC WORKS

• Tolls throughout Florida will be re-instated on      Thursday, September 21^st.
• Tolls will remain suspended on the Homestead Extension      of Florida’s Turnpike south of the interchange with S.R. 874 (Mile Post      0-17) to assist Monroe County residents with recovery efforts.
• The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)      announced I-75 remains open, as flood waters have been receding on the      Santa Fe River.
• U.S. 27, U.S. 41 and State Road 47 at the Santa Fe      River are now open.
• State Road 31 in Punta Gorda and Arcadia is now open.
• FDOT and FHP continue to monitor river levels in      Northeast Florida.
• FDOT debris removal crews have cleared US 1 and has      completed bridge inspection on 26 off-system bridges in Monroe County.      FDOT is closely coordinating support of debris removal in off-system roads      in Monroe County. Local officials will determine when it’s safe to reenter      Monroe County.
• Governor Scott announced that the Federal Highway      Administration (FHWA) has approved a $25 million Emergency Relief (ER)      Quick Release Grant to support response and recovery efforts for Florida’s      roadways and transportation system. This federal funding will be used to      conduct emergency repairs on impacted roads, embankments, bridges or other      infrastructure and help restore traffic on major roadways to ensure      Florida residents and visitors can travel safely.

RECOVERY BRANCH

• An aggressive recovery effort is ongoing, working with      FEMA to identify and activate federal grant programs that can benefit      Floridians and their communities.
• President Donald Trump’s Administration expanded Major      Disaster Declaration for Florida requested by Governor Scott includes      individual assistance for Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Broward,      Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler,      Gilchrist, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough,      Indian River, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Martin,      Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Palm      Beach, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie,      Sumter, Suwannee, Union, and Volusia counties.
• Emergency Protective Measures (Category A and Category      B) funded through the Federal Public Assistance Program is available for      all 67 counties.

DISASTER ASSISTANCE

• The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is      encouraging individuals and families to be alert for false rumors, scams,      identity theft, and fraud. For resources on how to protect yourself and      your loves ones from disaster fraud, visit https://www.fema.gov/hurricane-irma-rumor-control or call      the @FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721.
• Residents who sustained losses in the declared counties      can apply for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.      Residents who suffered damages from the storm may register now, and if      their county is later included in the declaration, the application will be      processed automatically.
• Residents are also encouraged to download the FEMA App      to begin the registration process. Simply click on Disaster      Resources.
• If you do not have access to the internet, you may      register by calling 1-800-621-3362 (FEMA) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY); if you      use 711 Relay or Video Relay Service call 1-800-621-3362.
• The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7:00      a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.
• The first FEMA Disaster Recovery Center has opened in      St. Augustine, and more will open in affected communities where survivors      can apply for assistance and meet face-to-face with recovery specialists.
• To find the nearest Disaster Recovery Center visit www.fema.gov/DRC,       use the FEMA App or       text DRC and your Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA).
• FEMA’s Operation Blue Roof Program is now available to      eligible homeowners impacted by Hurricane Irma. Operation Blue Roof      provides a temporary covering of blue plastic sheeting to help reduce      further damage to property until permanent repairs can be made. For more      information, click HERE.
• Outreach teams from FEMA are canvassing Florida      communities affected by Hurricane Irma. The teams are working in federally      designated counties to help residents register for disaster assistance and      to quickly identify and address immediate and emerging needs. The teams      can also provide application updates and referrals to additional community      resources for remaining needs. For more information, click HERE.

PUBLIC HEALTH AND MEDICAL

• Governor Rick Scott is directing Florida Agency for      Health Care Administration (AHCA) Secretary Justin Senior and Florida      Department of Elder Affairs Secretary Jeffery Bragg to issue emergency      rules to keep Floridians safe in health care facilities during      emergencies. Pursuant to the emergency action, within the next 60 days,      all assisted living facilities (ALFs) and nursing homes must obtain ample      resources, including a generator and the appropriate amount of fuel, to      sustain operations and maintain comfortable temperatures for at least      96-hours following a power outage. This is based on standards already in      place at all hospitals in Florida. For more information, click HERE.
• The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration and      the Florida Department of Health is conducting frequent and vigorous      outreach to facilities every day, which includes daily calls with      hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities. In-person      wellness checks are being conducted for facilities when contact cannot be      made or any facility that reports distress. See full release HERE.

•  

• Assisted Living Facilities: 82 are utilizing generators, 2,675 have power, 127       have reported as being closed, 186 have reported post-storm evacuations;
• Nursing Homes:        17 are utilizing generators, 657 have power, 7 have reported being       closed, 38 have reported post-storm evacuations
• Hospitals:       1 are utilizing generators, 305 have power, 7 have reported being closed,       5 have reported post-storm evacuations

• See the Governor’s statement regarding the tragedy in Broward HERE.
• The state is holding daily calls with assisted living      facilities and nursing homes to ensure they have everything they need to serve      those in their care. The state is aggressively working to ensure utility      companies restore power to these facilities as quickly as possible.
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)      has activated a program called the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS)      Definitive Care Reimbursement Program to help hospitals and medical      facilities providing care to patients affected by Hurricane Irma, more      information HERE.
• Up-to-date information on boil water notices is      available online HERE.
• Disaster Medical Assistance Teams have been deployed to      provide healthcare services to communities in need.
• Department of Health (DOH) Environmental Health staff      are conducting assessments throughout the state and epidemiology staff are      monitoring emergency department surveillance to identity carbon monoxide      poisonings relating to generator use.
• DOH is urging residents to avoid flood waters. Flood      water may contain waste from sewage systems and septic tanks, agricultural      and industrial waste and other bacteria. There may also be unseen hazards      under the water in areas that received storm surge or freshwater flooding.      Flood waters can also mask debris, downed power lines and other hazards.
• DOH is mobilizing additional resources to Collier      County, in particular Everglades City, including 1,000 mud boots, portable      shower facilities, and Tdap vaccines.
• OneBlood is urging all those who are able to visit a      local blood center and donate blood to do so. They have an urgent need for      platelets and O negative blood.
• APD has created a Recovery Toolkit with vital resources      for customers, waiver support coordinators, and providers recovering from      Hurricane Irma. It is posted on the home page of apdcares.org.
• DCF requested and FNS granted a mass replacement for 40      percent of SNAP benefits to customers approved as of September 10 in      affected counties. For more information, visit the ACCESS Florida webpage.      DCF is processing the replacement and benefits should be available on EBT      cards by September 22.
• DCF requested and FNS granted a waiver of the reporting      requirement so that households in counties affected by Hurricane Irma have      until September 29 to report SNAP food loss and request replacement of      benefits.

VOLUNTEER EFFORTS

• Volunteer Florida and the Department of Management      Services are seeking state employee volunteers to transport food to      affected areas in Southwest and Northeast Florida beginning Friday, Sept.      15. For more information, visit www.dms.myflorida.com and      click “Hurricane Irma: Volunteer to Help.”
• Governor Rick Scott activated the Florida Disaster Fund to      support individuals who are impacted by Tropical Storm Irma. The      Florida Disaster Fund helps provide financial support to Florida’s      communities in times of disaster. To make a contribution, please      visit www.FloridaDisasterFund.org or text SUNSHINE to 20222 to make a one-time      donation of $10. Volunteer Florida has also engaged with Facebook to      activate a donation portal online.
• In response to Hurricane Irma, Lyft is donating      $100,000 to a “Relief Rides” program helping those in need get to/from      hospitals and shelters after the hurricane, as well as partnering with      Team Rubicon to help their volunteers. Call (754) 900-5949 to      request a ride. If you are associated with a hospital, shelter, or local      government, please email florida@lyft.com so that Lyft can get you access to a pre-funded      account to help those in need. Click here for      information on how partners can use Lyft’s Concierge Service to request      rides for those in need and who may not have access to a smartphone.
• Uber is donating $400,000 of rides, food and relief to      families and communities affected as well as first responders. Uber is      helping provide free rides across the state to Floridians in need. Call      the toll-free number 844-800-9425 to request a ride. Local governments,      nonprofits, and organizations with an immediate need can email IrmaRelief@uber.com.
• 15 AmeriCorps members with Volunteer Florida grantee      City of Orlando deployed to the Orange County EOC to assist 350 students      in need
• 14 AmeriCorps member with Volunteer Florida grantee      Polk Reads deployed to the Polk County Volunteer Reception Center to serve      Floridians in Central Florida
• In Central Florida, AmeriCorps members from the Heart      of Florida United Way volunteered at the 211 Crisis Hotline, answering      over 300 calls
• Volunteer Florida Community Emergency Response Team      (CERT) of the Villages have served over 300 people in two shelters. In      conjunction with the Villages Public Safety Department, 26 CERT members      checked on more than 356 homes on 15 streets.
• In Collier County, CERT teams walked door to door and      passed out water and tarps and did wellness checks. They are also assisting      with POD (Point of Distribution) in an effort to get essentials items into      the community.
• In what is the largest response in the history of the      Florida Division, the Salvation Army currently has field kitchens located      in Ft. Myers, Naples, Miami, northeast Florida, Sebring and Marathon with      the capacity to produce 10,000-20,000 meals each. Additionally, 61 Mobile      Canteens with the capacity to prepare 1,500 meals a day are currently      serving hot meals across the state.
• To date, The Salvation Army Florida Division has      prepared and distributed 551,058 meals, drinks, and snacks, and have made      6,319 emotional and spiritual comfort contacts with the support of more      than 8,258 volunteer hours.
• To date, more than 34,392 meals have been delivered      through the Red Cross.
• 160 Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles are surveying      impacted areas in the Keys distributing food to community members.

EDUCATION

• Governor Rick Scott announced that Florida Virtual      School (FLVS) will provide remote access to educational resources to all      Florida students who were displaced by Hurricane Irma. Additionally, FLVS      will provide access to digital educational materials to help the hardest      hit school districts as they work to return to normal operations.
• Please visit www.fldoe.org/irma/ to      view all school closures.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

• 101 Florida State Parks have reopened for day-use only,      66 parks remain closed to ensure visitor safety. Park service staff      have formed teams to respond to impacted parks and re-open them as quickly      as possible. A full list of closures can be found at https://floridastateparks.org/content/storm-information.
• At DEP’s request, crews from Tennessee, South      Carolina and North Carolina, as well as Miami Dade and Jupiter, have been      deployed and are currently working on repairs along the 117-mile main      line from Key Largo to Key West.
• DEP continues to coordinate with the EPA and the U.S.      Coast Guard to assess facilities and respond to pollution incidents and      other storm impacts.
• DEP staff have completed initial inspections to      document damage to structures and the beach-dune system in Nassau, Duval,      St. Johns, Brevard, St. Lucie, Indian River, Martin, Palm Beach, Broward,      Miami-Dade, Volusia, Flagler, Sarasota (R-1 to R -44), Pinellas, Manatee,      Franklin and Gulf counties. Staff continue to work in Charlotte, Lee and      Collier counties. DEP’s Beaches Program staff have completed more      detailed engineering surveys and damage assessments in the northeast      region, and are now in the field in the central, southeast and southwest      regions.

• DEP continues to coordinate with US Army Corps of      Engineers, FDOT, US Coast Guard, FWC, and FEMA on debris removal      statewide. DEP contractors have mobilized to the St. Johns River region.      Debris can be reported here.
• Dune and beach fortification activities in St. Johns      and Flagler counties that had begun in the week prior to Hurricane Irma      have resumed. Fortification efforts in Volusia County were completed. To      date, more than 30,000 cubic yards of sand have been placed in these      areas.

• DEP has established a mutual aid system to coordinate      responses between utilities, the department, and other responders. This      system is active and continues to coordinate and respond to the needs of      drinking and waste water facilities throughout Florida. This includes      ensuring generators for lift stations, wastewater plants and other vital      infrastructure operations, providing pumps for flood control measures and      deploying crews to assist with drinking and wastewater facility repairs.
• DEP has issued an emergency order to ensure recovery efforts      are not hampered or delayed. DEP has expanded that order for power plants      to cover the entire state to assist any facility recovering from the storm      and a new order to waive certain rules for fuel facilities impacted by the      storm statewide. Both orders apply only to impacted facilities and have      provisions to guard the environment while assisting in quick recovery of      critical infrastructure. DEP expanded that order again to benefit      beach fortification and repair efforts.

WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS

• All South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD)      pump stations continue 24/7 pumping operations, except for the Okeechobee      Field Station area, which has resumed normal operations. Generator and      fuel tank level inspections ongoing at all structures, and debris removal      operations continue.
• All SFWMD structures upstream of Lake Kissimmee are      discharging at maximum rates. Water managers are continuing to use the      S-65A navigation lock at Lake Kissimmee to increase flows to help further      lower water levels in the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes.
• The Southwest Florida Water Management District      (SWFWMD) continues to operate water control structures.
• The St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD)      continues to assist Indian River County lower water levels to mitigate      flooding at Blue Cypress Lake.
• The SJRWMD continues to manage the Upper St Johns River      Basin to help mitigate flooding.
• The SJRWMD continues to manage flood control structures      at the Ocklawaha Basin to protect private residences. This includes      closure of the Apopka Dam.
• SJRWMD is assisting the Florida Department of      Environmental Protection with debris removal within district boundaries.

BUSINESS, INDUSTRY, & ECONOMIC STABILIZATION

• The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity      (DEO) has launched the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan      Program to support businesses impacted by Hurricane Irma to provide      short-term, interest-free loans to small businesses that experienced      physical or economic damage during the storm. To complete an application      by the Oct. 31, 2017, deadline, visit www.floridadisasterloan.org.      For more information contact the Florida Small Business Development Center      Network (FSBDCN) at 850-898-3489 or emailDisaster@FloridaSBDC.org.
• DEO has launched the Disaster Unemployment Assistance      (DUA) Program to provide assistance to businesses and residents whose      employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a result of      Hurricane Irma. To file for DUA or for more information go to www.FloridaJobs.org or      call 1-800-385-3920.
• The Florida Virtual Business Emergency Operations      Center business damage assessment surveying tool has been activated for      businesses to report damages resulting from Hurricane Irma. Businesses are      encouraged to visit http://flvbeoc.org/index.php. Click on Hurricane Irma.
• A private sector hotline is available at (850) 410-1403      to respond to calls from businesses and private sector support      organizations.
• The state is working to identify the “open/close”      status of businesses. This information is being posted to the SERT      Hurricane Irma web page: http://www.floridadisaster.org/info/ .
• Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association is      encouraging lodging operators’ enrollment in the FEMA Transitional Shelter      Assistance Program for displaced persons. All lodging operators are      encouraged to sign-up at http://ela.corplodging.com.​
• DEO has received approval by the United States      Department of Labor to implement the Disaster Dislocated Worker Program to      assist with cleanup and in providing humanitarian assistance. ​
• DEO and FSBDCN are working with the Small Business      Administration (SBA) in the opening of Business Recovery Centers (BRCs).      SBA announced the opening of two BRCs in Duval County and Pinellas County      on September 18, 2017 to help businesses impacted by Hurricane Irma.
• The BRC in Duval County will be located at Beaver       Street Enterprise Center, 728 Blanche Street, Bldg. 2, Jacksonville, FL
• the BRC in Pinellas County will be located at       EPiCenter-Pinellas County Economic Development Center, 13805 58th Street       North, Clearwater, FL.

INSURANCE

• At the direction of Governor Scott, Insurance      Commissioner Altmaier issued an Emergency Order suspending and activating      certain insurance rules and statutes for the health, safety, and welfare      of Florida’s policyholders. Among other provisions, the Order provides an      additional 90 days to policyholders to supply information to their      insurance company; prohibits insurance companies from canceling or      non-renewing policies covering residential properties damaged by the      hurricane for at least 90 days; and freezes any and all efforts to      increase rates on policyholders for 90 days. The Order can be found HERE.
• Floridians affected by the storm must now begin the      process of surveying damages to their property and belongings. If you need      help finding your Florida’s property insurance company’s website and      contact information, click HERE.      For a list of licensed insurance agents in Florida, click HERE.
• Consumers with questions about their policies and those      who need help filing a claim should call the CFO’s free Insurance Consumer      Helpline at 1-877-693-5236.
• It is important to document all damaged property and      belongings. A free smartphone app developed by the National Association of      Insurance Commissioners called “MyHome Scr.APP.book” is available to assist      with photo documentation.
• Citizens Property Insurance Corporation has opened      three Catastrophe Response Centers have across Southern Florida. At these      centers, policy holders can file claims, confirm coverage and receive      advance payments for additional living expenses when appropriate. For more      information, click HERE.