Gov. Ron DeSantis declares state of emergency ahead of Hurricane Dorian and eases fuel restrictions throughout Florida

Aug. 30--Gov. Ron DeSantis expanded an emergency declaration Thursday to cover the entire state, with the latest forecast showing Hurricane Dorian slamming into Florida's East Coast at Category 4 strength.

DeSantis' order broadens Wednesday's emergency declaration for 26 counties to cover all of Florida's 67 counties.

"If you're in the path of this storm anywhere on the East Coast of Florida, make your preparations," DeSantis said Thursday afternoon. "Take action."

DeSantis said he spoke with President Donald Trump Wednesday night.

"He assured me the federal government would be with us every step of the way," DeSantis said.

Trump is canceling a trip to Poland this weekend, so he can monitor Hurricane Dorian. Vice President Mike Pence will attend in his place.

The governor received a briefing Thursday morning at the National Hurricane Center in Miami and visited emergency operations centers in Brevard and Duval counties later in the day. DeSantis said he expects the state's Emergency Operations Center to be fully activated Friday.

The storm's cone of uncertainty spans from Jacksonville to the Keys, putting nearly 19 million people in its potential path.

Florida is working with the federal government and neighboring states to bolster the state's fuel supply, DeSantis said.

DeSantis said the state has sufficient fuel, although some stations are running out of gas.

"We have fuel," he said. "It just needs to be brought in from our ports."

The emergency declaration will ease road restrictions and allow for more fuel to be transported to stations, DeSantis said. In the event of evacuation orders, tolls will be suspended, he said.

The state has 819,000 gallons of water and 1.8 million meals ready for distribution.

DeSantis urged the state's nursing homes and assisted-living centers to protect vulnerable residents during Dorian.

Four employees of Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills where 12 people died in sweltering heat after Hurricane Irma cut power in 2017 were charged with manslaughter earlier this week.

"That sends a very important message that if you are entrusted with care of these vulnerable populations it's really your responsibility to have a plan in place," DeSantis said.

In the wake of the Hollywood deaths, the state mandated that nursing homes and assisted-living centers have backup power to run air conditioners. Statistics from the Agency of Health Care Administration show about 58 percent of nursing home providers have not installed the equipment and received an extension to meet the requirements. About 10 percent assisted-living facilities have not installed the equipment.

The Florida State University college football game planned for Saturday in Jacksonville is being moved to Tallahassee given Dorian's possible track, DeSantis said. The Seminoles are taking on the Boise State University Broncos.

Skyler Swisher can be reached at sswisher@sunsentinel.com, 561-243-6634 or @SkylerSwisher.

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