Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, alongside Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) Executive Director Kevin Guthrie and Major General John D. Haas, addressed the ongoing recovery efforts following Hurricane Milton’s impact on Florida during a press briefing in St. Petersburg.
As of Thursday morning, approximately 2.4 million residents remained without power across the state. However, restoration efforts had already brought power back to 1.65 million accounts.
The State Assistance Information Line has been activated 24/7 to provide support, with English, Spanish, and Haitian-Creole assistance available at 1-800-342-3557.
READ: UF/IFAS Needs Your Help To Assess Hurricane Milton’s Impact On Florida Agriculture
Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order 24-215, amending the previous state of emergency declaration to include 51 counties.
Emergency Management and Response
- The State Emergency Operations Center has been at Level 1 since Hurricane Helene and remains fully activated for Hurricane Milton. The State Emergency Response Team (SERT) has undertaken over 2,200 missions, including resource staging, infrastructure protection, and personnel coordination.
- Urban Search and Rescue teams, along with the Florida National Guard, have rescued nearly 1,200 individuals and over 140 animals since the hurricane made landfall. Additionally, 27 Points of Distribution (PODs) are being set up in impacted areas to distribute supplies.
- Three base camps for responders have been established in Pasco and Pinellas counties, providing essential services to recovery personnel.
Fuel and Transportation Assistance
- The state has secured 1 million gallons of diesel and 730,000 gallons of emergency fuel, with tens of thousands of gallons already deployed to support field operations.
- Free transportation for residents returning from shelters in mandatory evacuation zones has been arranged with Uber and Lyft, using promo codes MILTONRELIEF1 and MILTONRELIEF24, respectively. Residents can find shelter information at FloridaDisaster.org/shelters.
READ: Tampa Electric Makes Strides In Hurricane Milton Power Restoration
Search and Rescue Operations
- The Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office deployed 23 Urban Search & Rescue teams comprising over 1,600 personnel, supported by 10 swift water rescue teams. These teams have completed 306 rescues and provided assistance to 64 others.
- The Florida State Guard and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) have been actively involved in rescue and patrol operations. The FWC has utilized high-water vehicles, airboats, drones, and other equipment to assist in the efforts, with significant rescues reported in Clearwater, Hillsborough County, and Volusia County.
National Guard Mobilization
- Over 6,500 Florida National Guard members have been activated, with an expected increase to nearly 7,300 personnel, including reinforcements from other states. The Guard is providing essential support such as search and rescue, flood mitigation, and reconnaissance.
Law Enforcement and Public Safety Efforts
- More than 340 law enforcement officers are engaged in missions related to Hurricane Milton, including security, traffic control, and fuel escorts.
- FDLE’s Sworn Training Unit is aiding in temporary home repairs for first responders, and aviation units are conducting overwatch missions in affected areas.
Health and Human Services
- The Department of Health has deployed nearly 600 emergency response vehicles and is supporting 43 special needs shelters. The State Surgeon General has signed an emergency order to expedite procurement and allow out-of-state medical professionals to assist in the response.
- There are currently 26 active boil water notices across the state, with updates available online. More than 750 healthcare facilities experienced power outages, though all long-term care facilities have generator power.
Agricultural and Environmental Response
- The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is ensuring fuel supplies and supporting agricultural operations. Emergency orders have been issued to aid the movement of animals and facilitate fuel distribution.
- Food safety inspections are ongoing, and generators have been deployed to prevent disruptions in critical agricultural infrastructure.
Support for Veterans and Vulnerable Populations
- The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs is coordinating the rescheduling of outpatient appointments and ensuring that state veterans’ homes remain operational.
- The Department of Children and Families has contacted over 8,700 families and 5,900 providers to assess needs, while mental health crisis intervention is available via telehealth.
- The Hope Line (833-GET-HOPE) and Activate Hope have been mobilized to connect residents with essential resources.
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