TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Governor Rick Scott is in constant communication with federal, state and local emergency management officials and state agency leaders to ensure that communities impacted by Hurricane Michael are receiving the resources they need. Today, Governor Scott visited a Disaster Recovery Center in Jackson County and received a full briefing from the Florida Division of Emergency Management on Hurricane Michael recovery efforts.
Yesterday, Governor Scott toured the damage at Tyndall Air Force Base (AFB) with Vice President Mike Pence and Second Lady Karen Pence. Following a briefing with Secretary of the Air Force Dr. Heather Wilson and Tyndall AFB Officials, Vice President Pence extended the administration’s commitment to rebuilding the Base.
STATE RESPONSE AND RECOVERY ACTIONS
Following Governor Scott’s request, President Donald Trump issued a Major Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Michael. See the declaration HERE. On October 7th, Governor Scott declared a state of emergency in 26 Florida counties, and expanded it to include 35 counties total on October 8th. To see his Emergency Order, click HERE.
Following a request by Governor Scott, and approval by FEMA, families in the following counties are now eligible for FEMA Individual Assistance:
Bay
Franklin
Gulf
Leon
Taylor
Wakulla
Calhoun
Liberty
Jackson
Gadsden
Holmes
Washington
Currently, Bay, Gulf and Jackson Counties have been approved for Transitional Sheltering Assistance. For more information and to apply for FEMA programs, visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
Following the Governor’s request, FEMA announced that it is expanding public assistance in Florida to include permanent repairs on roads and bridges, buildings and equipment, utilities, public buildings, and parks and other recreational facilities for Bay, Calhoun, Gadsden, Gulf and Liberty counties. For more information about FEMA’s public assistance visit https://bit.ly/2JeBFTx .
FOOD AND WATER
The state is working to ensure adequate food resources are available for Florida residents impacted by Hurricane Michael. Specific activities include the following:
Law enforcement escorts have been arranged to expedite food and water resources.
Approximately 11 million meals are being or have been distributed.
Approximately 3 million gallons of water are being or have been distributed.
Approximately 3 million pounds of ice are being or have been distributed.
Emergency Supply Distribution Centers, or Points of Distribution (POD), are places where the public can pick up emergency supplies following a disaster. These sites have food, water, and other critical supplies. Click HERE for a complete map of POD locations.
Major retailers in impacted communities have re-opened and are stocked with food, water and other important commodities. Click HERE for a list of open businesses where these necessities are available for purchase.
FUEL
There are no reported widespread fuel shortages.
Florida SERT made first responder fueling depots available to utility crews across the Panhandle. This helps ensure that utility restoration trucks have the fuel they need so they can restore power faster.
Fueling trucks are currently deployed across the affected counties to distribute fuel.
COMMUNICATIONS
Governor Scott laid out his expectations for telecommunications companies that are experiencing prolonged service outages in the areas impacted by Hurricane Michael. See the Governor’s press release HERE.
Industry personnel are working to restore cell service and communications in the impacted areas.
Communications support packages have been dispatched through the Commercial Service Providers and Florida National Guard to Holmes, Liberty, Jackson, Gadsden, Calhoun, Gulf, Franklin and Washington counties.
The Florida Department of Management Services’ (DMS) Division of Telecommunications has worked or is working 210 missions including coordinating the deployment of over 100 public safety mobile communications trailers and towers, mobile cell towers, hot-spots and Mi-Fi’s, more than 1,050 public safety portable radios, more than 10,000 cellular devices and more than 30 charging stations at shelters and comfort stations.
POWER RESTORATION
Florida SERT made first responder fueling depots available to utility crews across the Panhandle. This helps ensure that utility restoration trucks have the fuel they need so they can restore power faster.
Governor Scott directed the Florida Department of Transportation to organize, lead and mobilize push crews to expedite power restoration.
Generators have been mobilized to impacted counties to bring traffic lights online, which will alleviate the need for law enforcement to direct traffic.
Governor Scott also requested assistance from Manny Miranda, Florida Power and Light’s Senior Vice President of Power Delivery, to advise and assist the state’s power restoration efforts.
To view the full list of Florida utilities with mutual aid agreements in place, click HERE.
The current power outage as of 12 p.m. is 23,332 accounts, down from approximately 400,000 after the storm.
SHELTERS
Currently eight shelters are open with a population of 883.
Visit https://www.floridadisaster.org/shelter-status/ to find information on shelters in your area.
MILITARY SUPPORT
At Governor Scott’s direction, the Florida National Guard has authorized the activation of up to 4,000 Soldiers and Airmen to assist with response efforts.
Following Governor Scott’s visit to Tyndall Air Force Base (AFB) on October 18th, he sent a letter to President Trump requesting that he direct immediate action to dedicate resources, manpower and funding to return Tyndall AFB to full operations as soon as possible. To see the letter, click HERE.
Joint Task Force – Florida (JTF-FL) has been tasked with a total of 327 missions to date, and is currently executing missions in support of Florida Division of Emergency Management Hurricane Michael relief efforts.
In the past 24 hours, elements of JTF-FL have supported various missions including (but not limited to):
Ongoing support of 14 security missions in support of local law enforcement agencies in Bay County.
Providing a communications support package to Jackson County.
Supporting 11 Points of Distribution (PODs) throughout four counties (Bay, Calhoun, Gulf and Jackson).
Liaison Officers operating in four counties (Bay, Calhoun, Gulf and Jackson).
Staffing the State Emergency Operations Center with 25 personnel.
Operating at the State Logistics Readiness Center in Orlando and one Logistics Staging Area in Marianna.
Staffing three shelter missions in Bay County.
LAW ENFORCEMENT
More than 2,000 law enforcement officers have been deployed to the impacted areas in the Panhandle and Big Bend. These officers have completed 376 missions.
Approximately 60 FWC officers and ten support staff, with appropriate equi