Gov. Scott Issues Executive Order on Hurricane Maria

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, Aug. 17 -- Gov. Rick Scott, R-Florida, issued the following executive order:

WHEREAS, on September 18, 2017, Hurricane Maria became a Category 5 Hurricane upon its first landfall on Dominica; and

WHEREAS, on September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria made landfall near Yabucoa, Puerto Rico as a Category 4 Hurricane; and

WHEREAS, Florida became the only state in the country to enter into a Host-State Agreement with FEMA to help families displaced by Hurricane Maria; and

WHEREAS, more than 37,000 Puerto Ricans displaced by Hurricane Maria have visited the state's Multi-Agency Resource Center for assistance; and

WHEREAS, I have traveled to Puerto Rico seven times to help coordinate the response and recovery efforts, and offer guidance, advice, and assistance, including leading a delegation of representatives of Florida's private, cooperative, and municipal utility providers; and

WHEREAS, Florida has provided a $ I million investment into our continued commitment to job creation by initiating a job placement and workforce development partnership to connect families relocating to Florida with available jobs positions and provide job training; and

WHEREAS, Florida has been committed to providing assistance _in transitional sheltering and housing for those displaced by Hurricane Maria, including continuously working with Congress and FEMA to extend sheltering assistance; and

WHEREAS, I have directed Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart to travel to Puerto Rico and continue our on-going assistance to the needs of Puerto Rican students and teachers, including requesting $126 million in additional funding, offering in-state tuition for all Florida public colleges and universities, and making every effort to open our schools and accommodate the students displaced by Hurricane Maria; and

WHEREAS, on October 2, 2017, I issued Executive Order 17-259 declaring a state of emergency for every county in Florida due to the efforts required to assist the people of Puerto Rico; and

WHEREAS, I have issued subsequent executive orders extending the declaration of a state of emergency under the Florida Emergency Management Act, including Executive Orders 17-304, 18-17, 18-80, 18-135, and 18-214 which extended the state of emergency through August 19, 2018;and

WHEREAS, no state of emergency declared pursuant to the Florida Emergency Management Act may continue for more than 60 days unless renewed by the Governor; and

WHEREAS, the State of Florida remains committed to helping every family recover from this devastating storm; and

WHEREAS, the effects of Hurricane Maria pose a continuing threat to the health, safety and welfare of the State of Florida, its residents, and the families who evacuated from Puerto Rico.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICK SCOTT, as Governor of Florida, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Article IV, Section 1 (a) of the Florida Constitution and by the Florida Emergency Management Act, as amended, and all other applicable laws, promulgate the following Executive Order, to take immediate effect:

Section I. The state of emergency declared in Executive Order 17-259 and extended by Executive Orders 17-304, 18-17, 18-80, 18-135 and 18-214 will be extended for 60 days following the issuance of this order.

Section 2. All actions taken by the Director of the Division of Emergency Management as the State Coordinating Officer with respect to this emergency before the issuance of this Executive Order are ratified, and he is directed to continue to execute the State's Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan and other response, recovery, and mitigation plans necessary to cope with the emergency.

Section 3. Except as amended herein, Executive Orders 17-259, 17-304, 18-17, 18-80, 18-135, and 18-214 are ratified and reaffirmed.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Florida to be affixed, at Tallahassee, this 17th day of August, 2018.

RICK SCOTT, GOVERNOR

ATTEST:

SECRETARY OF STATE