Florida Gov. DeSantis Holds Press Conference With FEMA Acting Administrator Pete Gaynor
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- Issues Update on Hurricane Dorian
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Today, Governor
"I'd like to thank FEMA Acting Administrator
"The images coming in from the
This morning,
STATE PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
* A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:
* Jupiter Inlet to the
* A Hurricane Watch is in effect for:
* North of
* North of
* A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:
* North of
* North of
* A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:
* North of
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* A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for:
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* A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for:
* North of
* Information regarding Watches and Warnings can be found at the following link: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT5+shtml/012123.shtml
EVACUATIONS
* The following counties have issued mandatory evacuation orders for coastal areas:
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* The following counties have issued voluntary/phased evacuation orders for coastal areas:
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* For up to date information on evacuation orders, including exact locations and zones, please visit https://www.floridadisaster.org/evacuation-orders/.
SHELTERS
* General Shelters open: 115
* Special Needs Shelters open: 48
* For up to date information on shelter operations, including locations please visit https://www.floridadisaster.org/shelter-status/ or https://floridadisaster.org/planprepare/disability/disability-shelters/
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
* Comcast opened its network of almost 200,000 Xfinity WiFi hotspots throughout
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* Portable emergency communication vehicles that provide limited cellular services in areas where cell towers are damaged;
* Mobile command centers for telecommunication restoration crews;
* Device charging stations for shelters;
* Portable generators for cell towers and other utility equipment; and
* Staged fuel tanks for cell site generators.
* There are almost 25,000 linemen, tree crews, and support personnel staged around
* Verizon is offering unlimited calling, texting and data for customers in the path of the hurricane. Verizon's prepaid, postpaid and small-business customers in the path of the hurricane will have unlimited calling, data and texting from
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FUEL
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* Through Executive Order 19-189,
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FOOD AND WATER
* The State has 819,000 gallons of water and 1.8 million meals ready for distribution.
* The State has submitted a request to
* The State has pre-deployed 860,000 bottles of water to preparing counties.
* The State has 730,000 pounds of ice ready for distribution.
MILITARY SUPPORT
* Following
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* Staffing and supporting the State Logistics Readiness Center (SLRC) in
* Operating a Logistics Staging Area (LSA) in
* Providing LNOs to 17 counties;
* Supporting two aviation missions in
* Providing support to Law Enforcement at 3 bridge missions in
* Staffing a total of 11 shelter missions (6 in
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SAFETY AND SECURITY
* 38 Urban Search and
* Four reconnaissance teams have been deployed and are ready for engagement.
* Two HazMat Teams have been deployed and are ready for engagement.
* A Helicopter Search and Rescue Team (HSART) is currently on standby with eight different airframes (two UH-60 Blackhawks, two CH-47 Chinooks, two HH-60 Blackhawks and two LUH-72 Lakotas), which will provide search and rescue capabilities in support of
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* FWC has more than 800 officers and resources prepared for potential deployment wherever they are needed. They have a variety of specialized equipment, including, aircraft, shallow draft boats, ATVs, airboats and four-wheel drive vehicles to assist with recovery.
LAW ENFORCEMENT
* More than 1,200 state sworn law enforcement officers are on standby for potential deployment.
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* FHP continues to work with its local law enforcement and transportation partners to identify and assist with any local needs before, during and after the storm.
* FHP is providing 2 Troopers for security at each of the open Service Plazas on the
* FHP has 68 Quick Reaction Force (QRF) Troopers on standby for pre-deployment.
* FHP has activated 12-hour Alpha/Bravo shifts for approximately 1,400 Troopers in the Eastern portions of the state.
* FHP has deployed an aircraft to monitor traffic at
* To assist local officials with evacuations and traffic safety, FHP has 10 troopers assigned to assist in
* FHP provided evacuation escorts of critical care patients from
* FHP is working with the
* FHP is assisting
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* FDLE's mutual aid team is leading
* FDLE has pre-positioned logistics teams along
* FDLE has a mobile communications team pre-positioned to ensure emergency communications continue following the storm.
* FWC has more than 800 officers and resources prepared for potential deployment wherever they are needed. They have a variety of specialized equipment, including, aircraft, shallow draft boats, ATVs, airboats and four-wheel drive vehicles to assist with recovery.
TRANSPORTATION & PUBLIC WORKS
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* The toll suspensions include the following:
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* The Turnpike Mainline (SR 91), including the -Homestead Extension (SR 821)
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* SR 417 - Eastern beltway around
* SR 429 -
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* I-295 Express
* SR 23
* Tolls suspended as announced by the
* SR 408
* SR 414
* SR 451
* SR 453
* SR 538
* SR 551
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** Food services at both locations will be available tomorrow, making seven of the eight service plazas under
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* FDOT is coordinating with its utility partners to pre-position cut and toss debris clearing crews with utility crews, facilitating quicker utility restoration.
* FDOT damage assessment teams are out performing inspections following the storm in southern coastal counties and continue this afternoon and early tomorrow.
* FDOT is working with state and local officials to assess the current situation and needs and holding teleconferences with the FDOT district offices.
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* FDOT is operating the I-595 Express lanes in the westbound direction until Hurricane Dorian has passed. Eastbound traffic will continue to use the general-purpose eastbound lanes throughout this period.
* Currently traffic is flowing smoothly with no major issues.
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* Airports on the west coast of
* The following
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* Port Canaveral
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* DMS is actively monitoring local conditions to determine the closure status of state buildings. As local conditions change, DMS will make updates for state building closures at: (https://www.dms.myflorida.com/business_operations/real_estate_development_and_management/bureau_of_operations_and_maintenance/building_closure_information
* State buildings in the following counties will be closed on
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* The Corps has received a FEMA Regional Activation Mission Assignment to provide an ESF 3 (Public Works & Engineering) team leader, assistant team leader and subject matter expert on debris, infrastructure assessments and water/wastewater.
* The Corps also received a mission assignment for temporary roofing planning, temporary emergency power, temporary public facilities and debris planning.
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* During the storm, the
* The Corps is continuing to monitor their construction sites around the
PUBLIC HEALTH AND MEDICAL
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* Information about nursing homes and assisted living facilities generator status can be found here: http://fl-generator.com/.
* Of the 3,062 licensed assisted living facilities (ALF) in
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* 684 nursing homes have a generator and must have the generator onsite as a result of the state of emergency, and 3 facilities have emergency plans to evacuate if needed.
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* 95 nursing homes and assisted living facilities along the east coast have been evacuated.
* Some Florida hospitals have begun evacuating or are making plans to evacuate.
* Full Evacuation (8):
* Advent Health New Smyrna (
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* Cleveland Clinic South (
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* Halifax Psychiatric Center North (
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* Normal version: http://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/drinking-water/boil-water-notices/index.html.
* Low-bandwidth version: http://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/drinking-water/boil-water-notices/mobile.html.
* DOH has communicated with County Health Departments (CHDs) to pre-identify and pre-stage resources.
* DOH is monitoring availability for 10 Nursing Strike Teams, 10
* DOH has conducted outreach to all 280 EMS providers in
* DOH has distributed general sanitation messaging to CHDs for all shelters through MassCare, encouraging disinfection of restrooms at least once a day.
* DOH has requested 390 EMS resources through the National EMS Contract for ambulances and para-transit vehicles.
* 150 personnel, including nursing staff, has been mobilized to assist special-needs shelters.
* DOH has requested 10 Nursing Strike Teams through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC).
* DOH is drop-shipping 2,365 doses of Narcan to all 67 County Health Departments to be distributed to all shelters. Additionally, DOH is distributing fact sheets to shelters to educate how to recognize signs of an overdose.
* DOH is coordinating with fuel vendors, who are prepared to support all hospitals and assisted living facilities (ALS) in the potential areas of impact.
* 319 ambulances are staged throughout
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* 21 counties have open shelters for special needs citizens throughout the
* No storm-related sewage spills have been reported to the State Watch Office.
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* APD's Recovery Toolkit at www.apdcares.org provides the latest information about the hurricane, disaster preparations and resources before and after the storm.
* The APD state-run facilities located in
* 62 APD licensed group homes along the
* The
* A toll-free number has been established for veterans who receive care in the impacted area. Call 1-800-507-4571 to receive information on where to go for care, how to receive prescription drugs, or any other concerns they may have about their care. The phone line will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
* Information on current federal, state and local veterans' programs, entitlements and referral services is available through a network of County Veteran Service Offices. Counselors are trained and accredited annually by the
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* Working with our Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), DOEA remains vigilant in tracking the storm and are in constant contact with our local service providers, who currently have no unmet needs.
* DOEA is working with our local service providers to assist in transporting clients to emergency shelters, as appropriate, and we are coordinating to ensure that our clients under mandatory evacuations are following those orders.
* DOEA has provided shelf-stable meals to home-delivered meal clients throughout the state.
* DOEA is also in contact with one of our contracted managed care organizations in
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* DCF announced it has been approved by the
* SNAP customers who were scheduled to receive their benefits
* DCF is communicating with community-based-care lead agencies to ensure there are plans in place to begin making pre-landfall status checks on children in the department's care.
* Continue to check the DCF website at: www.myflfamilies.com/disaster and social media accounts for the latest updates.
* DCF is holding daily calls with regional directors, program leads, and facility directors to ensure programs and facilities are prepared.
* DCF offices in
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
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* State Office closure information, including DEP offices, can be found here.
* Visitors with existing camping and cabin reservations at impacted parks will be notified by
* 1038 Disaster Debris Management Sites have been pre-authorized and 76 authorized for the 67 counties addressed by the Governor's Executive Order.
* An online tool for the public to report the location of storm debris has been deployed.
* Pre-storm prep guidance has been distributed to local governments and all hazardous waste, drinking water and wastewater facilities.
* DEP has issued an Emergency Final Order which authorizes repairs, replacement, restoration, and certain other measures due to impacts from Hurricane Dorian.
* State
* DEP has activated StormTracker which is an online reporting tool that tracks drinking water and wastewater facility status and needs as a result of storm impacts.
* DEP is monitoring generator requests for post-storm impacts.
* Four (4) Hazardous Area Response Teams (HARTs ) are on-call and ready to deploy.
* Sixteen (16) strike teams have been identified for park cleanup deployment and are ready with equipment and staff.
* Dune fortification in
* DEP submitted a federal resource request for coastal engineers.
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY
* Uber is offering rides to those needing transportation to a shelter. Use code DORIANRELIEF in the app, request, and select any of the
* In response to Hurricane Dorian, Airbnb hosts across
* The
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* FRLA is partnering with the
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* Following the storm, DEO is encouraging businesses to complete the
* DEO is extending the deadline for local governments to submit applications for the
* VISIT
* Through VISIT
* VISIT
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* Secretary Beshears has ordered the suspension and tolling of time requirements, notice requirements, and deadlines applicable to certain final orders, notices of intended agency action, and pending applications for permits, licenses, rates or other approvals. This suspension will continue through
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* DBPR has suspended the existing occupational license renewal deadline of
* Anheuser-Busch is delivering over 100,000 cans of emergency drinking water to
EDUCATION
* The
* The following school districts have announced closures:
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* The following state colleges and universities have announced closures:
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* The College of the
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* The following
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* Education Commissioner
* Many school boards are adjusting their meetings due to Hurricane Dorian.
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INSURANCE
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* OIR team members will be actively working throughout the storm and beyond with consumer advocates, industry stakeholders and entities licensed under OIR's regulatory authority.
* 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 here.
VOLUNTEER EFFORTS
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* Volunteer Florida is coordinating with the
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* Volunteer Florida is coordinating with state and local emergency management officials and partners to preposition resources.
* Crisis Cleanup has opened their Home Cleanup Hotline (844-965-1386) to help individuals who experience damage to their homes and property.
* The
* The
* Feeding Florida is coordinating with local food banks to ensure that there is food and water across the state.
* To assist blood centers in
* The
* The
* The American Red Cross Safe and Well program has been activated. More information can be found on www.redcross.org
* The American Red Cross Disaster Response Headquarters in
* Team Rubicon is prepositioning volunteers for deployment.
* Florida Baptist Disaster Relief has two kitchens that have a 32,000 meal capacity per day. They are also working with partners to preposition additional kitchens that have the capacity to prepare 180,000 meals per day. Additionally, 40+ cleanup and recover teams have populated and are building rosters for pre-staging/deployment.
* SBP is readying deployment teams that can be sent to impacted areas as needed.
* Farm Share is preparing relief items that can be sent to impacted communities as needed.
* Save the Children has an emergency team in
* Convoy of Hope has staff and supplies pre-positioned in
* Individuals who are interested in volunteering after the storm are encouraged to visit www.volunteerflorida.org where they may register to become a volunteer and search for volunteer opportunities. Volunteers should affiliate with an organization before deploying. Volunteers should not self-deploy.
STATE CORRECTIONS
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* Evacuation determinations are made in the best interest of the public, staff and inmate safety. Two main correctional institutions and multiple satellite facilities, community work release centers and work camps were evacuated in an abundance of caution. Approximately, 4,407 inmates have been evacuated or relocated to facilities better equipped to weather the impacts of the storm.
* FDC is taking proactive steps to ensure institutions are prepared for the storm and ensure inmate safety is not compromised. Food and water inventories have been evaluated at each facility and additional supplies have been ordered for facilities in the path of the storm. Fuel supplies at institutions have been checked in anticipation of generator use. All facilities have a generator in the event commercial power is lost.
* You can search for an inmate by utilizing the offender search on FDC's website: http://www.dc.state.fl.us/OffenderSearch/Search.aspx.
COURTS
* Many counties along
STATE EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER / CONTACTS
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* The State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) contact number: 1-800-342-3557.
* The State Emergency Operations Center Media Line: 850-921-0217.
* Follow @FLSERT and @GovRonDeSantis on Twitter for live updates on Hurricane Dorian.
* Visit http://www.floridadisaster.org/info to find information on emergency preparedness, shelters, road closures and evacuation routes.
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Hurricane Dorian churns off Florida’s coast with 110 mph winds, flood advisory issued for parts of Lake, Orange and Volusia
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