Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam today announced that the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has readied millions of servings of food that will be on-hand for Hurricane Irma response efforts. This effort is being conducted as part of the Division of Food, Nutrition and Wellness’ Emergency Support Function 11 role.
“We are doing everything we can to support statewide disaster preparedness efforts so we can quickly address arising needs in the wake of Hurricane Irma,” stated Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam.
The Division of Food, Nutrition and Wellness, in its role as ESF-11, has ready:
- 6.3 million servings of meat, eggs, nut butters, and beans;
- 3.8 million servings of canned and frozen vegetables in USDA foods on-hand;
- 2.6 million servings of cheese;
- 1.6 million servings of canned fruit and applesauce; and
- ESF-11 is quoting 120,000 dehydrated meals for delivery to mass care agencies in preparation for landfall.
During an emergency, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services provides necessary food and water to affected areas and helps protect animals and pets. The department’s Florida Forest Service is responsible for incident management and assists emergency responders in clearing debris and distributing supplies. Additionally, the department’s Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement provides law enforcement services to police departments and county sheriff’s offices as necessary.
For more information and tips on hurricane preparedness, visit FloridaDisaster.org.
