5/27/2018

Governor Scott Issues Updates on Subtropical Storm Alberto Preparedness Efforts 05/26/18

Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency in all 67 Florida counties and received a full update on Subtropical Storm Alberto from the Florida Division of Emergency Management. The Governor will continue to be in constant communication with state and local emergency management officials and state agency leaders to ensure the state is prepared to respond to any potential impacts from Subtropical Storm Alberto.

See below for more information on what the State of Florida is doing to support Subtropical Storm Alberto preparedness efforts:

STATE PREPAREDNESS FUNCTIONS

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

• Tropical Storm Watches, flood warnings and rip current advisories are in effect across the state. To see the most current advisories in your county, click HERE.

MILITARY SUPPORT

• The Florida National Guard has 5,500 guard members available for deployment if needed.

LAW ENFORCEMENT

• The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is actively monitoring the storm and standing-by to assist with any weather-related missions.
• The FHP has prepared two Quick Response Force teams comprised of 66 State Troopers to deploy quickly to any area of the state of Florida that may need assistance.
• On May 22, at Governor Scott’s direction, The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) began to pre-position and stage its high-water vehicles and all other flood response resources so they may be rapidly deployed to assist Floridians in need in the event of any flooding.
• FWC Officers in all 67 Florida counties have been placed on a heightened alert status, in anticipation of heavy rains and flooding because of Subtropical Storm Alberto. High water vehicles and shallow draft vessels in all Florida counties have been readied for immediate deployment to affected areas. The FWC continues to monitor the storm and is ready to respond as needed.
• FDLE is coordinating with local law enforcement agencies and emergency operations centers, identifying protective actions in advance of the storm.

TRANSPORTATION & PUBLIC WORKS

• The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is actively monitoring for roadway flooding in areas already impacted by heavy rains and stands ready to respond as needed.

POWER AND UTILITIES

• The state has contacted utilities to put them on notice to start reporting outage and restoration information if needed.
• The state is monitoring the power grid for sufficient power in the state.
• The state is monitoring the natural gas infrastructure for any damages that can cause a loss of service to power plants.

FUEL

• The state has contacted fuel industry partners, such as the Florida Petroleum Council, Florida Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association, to prepare for potential storm impacts.
• The state has also contacted emergency fuel and equipment provider for status of emergency fuel supply and equipment.
• The state is monitoring fuel industry and anticipating impacts and disruptions.

SHELTERS

• The state is preparing to support local sheltering operations if needed. More information on shelters will be made available as decisions on potential evacuations are made.

PUBLIC HEALTH AND MEDICAL

• The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) and the Florida Department of Health (DOH) are standing by to assist healthcare facilities if needed.
• DOH has been actively reaching out to Special Needs Shelter Consultants and County Health Department Directors to with updates and preparedness information.
• The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) is closely monitoring the storm and regularly sharing information with waiver support coordinators and providers to ensure they are prepared.
• The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs (FDVA) operates six skilled nursing facilities and one assisted living facility. All state veterans’ homes are currently operational.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

• All Florida State Parks remain open at this time. Park staff are prepared to evacuate campgrounds and close parks as necessary to ensure visitor safety. Visitors can visit https://www.floridastateparks.org/content/storm-update for updates.
• The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has reached out to high-priority regulated facilities to remind them of storm preparations they should be making, and has issued an emergency final order to ensure recovery efforts are not hampered or delayed.
• The current condition of the state’s beaches has been assessed, which will expedite post-storm assessments.
• An online tool for the public to report the location of storm debris in waterways has been deployed.

WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS

• Water Management Districts are monitoring waterways and water levels, preparing staff and vehicles, and are prepared to adjust flows as necessary.
• Lake Okeechobee is currently at 13.75 feet and is being continuously monitored by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, which manages Lake Okeechobee water levels.

BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY

• The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) has activated the Private Sector Hotline at 850-815-4925. The hotline is available for business inquiries about the storm, preparedness information and post-impact information.
• Through Visit Florida’s partnership with Expedia, www.expedia.com/Florida has been activated to provide accommodations availability information for visitors, residents, and first responders.

INSURANCE

• OIR is prepared to order property insurers to submit claims information from Subtropical Storm Alberto, if necessary.
• OIR has updated its Hurricane Season Resources webpage, which contains links to resources from the Governor, Chief Financial Officer, Attorney General, Commissioner of Agriculture, Division of Emergency Management, Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Flood Insurance Program, and contact information for Florida’s property insurers.
• In accordance with the Governor’s Executive Order, OIR has notified all health insurers, managed care organizations and other health entities of their statutory obligation to allow for early prescription refills during a state of emergency.
• The Florida Department of Financial Services’ Division of Consumer Services has resources for consumers seeking to file insurance complaints HERE.

VOLUNTEER EFFORTS

• Volunteer Florida is encouraging visitors to connect with the emergency management network in Florida to receive updates.
• Florida’s Community Emergency Response Teams are on standby to assist with sheltering needs.

CONTACTS

• The State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) contact number is 1-800-342-3557.
• The State Emergency Operations Center Media Line: 850-921-0217.
• Follow @FLSert or @FLGovScott on Twitter for live updates on Subtropical Storm Alberto.
• Visit http://www.floridadisaster.org to find information on shelters, road closures, and evacuation routes.