Hurricane Irma will devastate Florida, and Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam today announced that the Florida Forest Service has reached out to its partners in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi to identify their saw team resources and request help with post-hurricane efforts to clear roadways and remove debris.
“We’re all in this together, and we’re going to need support from other states to immediately begin recovery efforts after Hurricane Irma leaves utter destruction in its wake,” stated Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam.
For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FreshFromFlorida.com.
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Patronis and Altmaier Stress Hurricane Irma Preparedness
In advance of Hurricane Irma’s impact to Florida, CFO Jimmy Patronis and Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier are advising the state’s more than 20 million residents to take actions now and get prepared.
“I know that Floridians have worked hard for their homes, but nothing is more important than protecting your life, so I ask all Floridians to please heed evacuation orders in their area and head to safer ground today,” said CFO Patronis. “We will help homeowners navigate through their insurance issues after Hurricane Irma has passed, and we will do everything possible to protect Florida’s policyholders.”
“Hurricane Irma is a dangerous storm and everyone in Florida should be taking it seriously. This includes monitoring weather advisories and making preparations to protect their families and homes for its pending landfall in our state,” stated Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier.
Numerous hurricane preparedness resources are available on both the Department of Financial Service’s (DFS) “Hurricane Irma” webpage and on the Office of Insurance Regulation’s (Office) “Hurricane Season Resources” webpage.
These include tips such as:
- Know the phone number and contact information for your insurance agent and insurance company. Make sure to have easy access to this information and your insurance policy if you must evacuate your home.
- Review your insurance policy and make sure you understand what may or may not be covered under your policy. Typically, flood insurance is not covered under a homeowners policy. In addition, some policies may cover expenses related to a mandatory evacuation, so it will be important to save all receipts.
- Strengthen your home’s defenses against a storm through simple mitigation techniques, such as covering windows and outside doors with storm shutters or plywood, replacing worn weather stripping under doors, and removing tree limbs that may fall on your home or become flying projectiles.
- Inventory your valuables and possessions using a home inventory checklist, which is available as a form you can download and print here. If you prefer to use a smartphone, there is a link to a free app created by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, which allows you to take pictures and add descriptions of your belongings.
- Most importantly, have a plan for you and your family if evacuation becomes necessary and know where the designated evacuation routes are in your community. Do not wait to evacuate if it becomes necessary.
- Following the storm, document all damaged property and belongings (take photos or shoot video of any damage before attempting temporary repairs), contact your insurance company or agent as soon as possible to report damages, and be wary of signing any documents for repairs that will give away your rights as an insured to a third-party vendor without understanding who will be responsible for paying the vendor, you as the consumer, or the insurance company. For more information about how an assignment of benefits (AOB) for repairs works, visit the DFS “AOB” or Office “AOB Resources” webpages.
Consumers who have questions about their insurance coverage are encouraged to call CFO Patronis’ Insurance Consumer Helpline at 1-877-693-5236. This helpline can also help consumers to gain contact information for their insurance company, and can also help to verify the license of an insurance agent or adjuster.
Capital Health Plan Announces Office Closure and Emergency Health Procedures
Amid Hurricane Irma, CHP offices closed Monday
Due to the imminent threat of Hurricane Irma, Capital Health Plan offices will be closed Monday, September 11. If members are in need of emergency or urgent care during this State of Emergency declared for all counties in Florida, please visit the nearest emergency room or urgent care facility that can meet your needs. Inform the provider you are a Capital Health Plan member and provide them with your CHP ID card, if you have it.
CHP Urgent Care will be open on Saturday, September 9 from 9:00am – 8:00pm and on Sunday, September 10 from 9:00am – 4:00pm. CHP Urgent Care will be closed onMonday, September 11.
Medications will continue to be filled at any of the 50,000 pharmacies nationwide in the Prime Network, which can be viewed by visiting www.capitalhealth.com/network. If the pharmacy has any trouble filling your medications during this time, the pharmacist should be directed to call the Prime Pharmacy technical help desk at 1-800-821-4795 or 1-866-469-5662 for Non-Medicare members and 1-866-590-3010 for Medicare members, 24 hours/day, 7 days/week. State of Florida members please call CVS Caremark at 1-800-364-6331, relating to your prescription drug coverage.
Gov. Scott Activates Florida Disaster Fund in Preparation for Hurricane Irma
Governor Rick Scott today activated the Florida Disaster Fund to support individuals who are impacted by Hurricane Irma. The Florida Disaster Fund helps provide financial support to Florida’s communities in times of disaster. To make a contribution, please visit www.FloridaDisasterFund.org or text DISASTER to 20222 to make a one-time donation of $10.
Governor Scott said, “We expect that Hurricane Irma will have a major impact on our state and we must use every available resource to meet the needs of our families and communities. We have heard from many individuals and organizations that want to offer help to Florida families and the Florida Disaster Fund is a great resource to support the disaster relief organizations across the state. I encourage all Floridians to look out for one another and work together to stay safe before and after the storm.”
Volunteer Florida CEO Vivian Myrtetus said, “As the state’s official fund for disaster response and recovery, the Florida Disaster Fund is an excellent way for the private sector and individuals to financially support for Floridians affected by Hurricane Irma.”
The Florida Disaster Fund is the State of Florida’s official private fund established to assist Florida’s communities as they respond to and recover during times of emergency or disaster. The fund is administered by the Volunteer Florida Foundation. Funds will support disaster relief organizations active in responding to and recovering from Hurricane Irma. In partnership with the public sector, private sector and other non-governmental organizations, the Florida Disaster Fund supports response and recovery activities. Donations to the Florida Disaster Fund are made to the Volunteer Florida Foundation, 501(c)(3) charitable organization and are tax deductible.
Donations may be made by credit card on the secure website www.floridadisasterfund.org or by check to the below address. Checks should be made payable to the Volunteer Florida Foundation and should include “Florida Disaster Fund” in the memo line.
Volunteer Florida Foundation
Attention: Florida Disaster Fund
3800 Esplanade Way, Suite 180
Tallahassee, FL 32311
For additional questions about the Florida Disaster Fund, please contact [email protected] or call (850) 414-7400.
Congress Approves Emergency FEMA Funding
The U.S. House of Representatives today passed $15.25 billion in emergency funding to address those impacted by hurricanes. The bill includes $7.4 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency Disaster Relief Fund, $7.4 billion for Community Development Block grants to be used in the wake of hurricanes and $450 million for the Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Program.
“With FEMA set to run out of money today, this emergency funding is a strong and necessary step in the right direction,” Rep. Mast said. “Although I’m returning to Florida to be with our community during Hurricane Irma, I will not stop fighting for the resources we need to address this devastating storm.”
According to FEMA’s Administrator Long, the agency is currently spending between $150 to $200 million per day, and had a Disaster Relief Fund balance of $917 million, with $461 million in the Majors account and $456 million in the Base account (as of Thursday, September 7, 2017). Even with the addition of the Congress-passed $7.85 billion, FEMA estimates that it will only be able to continue providing support and relief efforts through September 30, 2017.
Members of the Florida Congressional Delegation will today be sending a letter to leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives calling on them to vote on additional resources for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund.
“With a full legislative agenda pending this month, it is imperative that the House can reassure our constituents and our local governments that there will be adequate funding to address their critical needs during and after this devastating natural disaster,” the letter reads. “Once again, we urge your immediate consideration of additional emergency funding for FEMA to continue servicing disaster events.”
Rep. Mast also addressed the broader package, which includes a 3-month debt ceiling extension and a 3-month continuing resolution:
“It was wrong to attach must-pass funding for FEMA to the debt ceiling and continuing resolution. I do not support raising the debt ceiling without reforming the broken system that has led to out-of-control spending, but this FEMA funding is too critical for Florida to allow this bill to fail, which is why I stayed to vote on it.”
The bill has already been passed by the Senate and now heads to the President’s desk for a signature.
Florida’s Municipal Electric Utilities are Preparing for Hurricane Irma
The Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) has activated its mutual aid network and is lining up crews to restore power to areas that will be affected by Hurricane Irma.
Florida’s public power utilities already account for approximately 1,000 lineworker personnel. Additionally, FMEA is bringing in more than 1,000 lineworkers and hundreds of tree-trimming and debris removal personnel from other parts of the country. Crews will be coming from Texas, Nebraska, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, and across New England. Once the storm passes, additional crews from Georgia, Alabama, and the Carolinas will also be pulled in.
“Hurricane Irma is a storm like none other we’ve seen and it will cause catastrophic property damage and widespread power outages in many parts of our state,” said Amy Zubaly, FMEA executive Director. “With many lessons learned during last year’s hurricane season, we are preparing for the worst. We are already bringing in thousands of resources, with many more on the way, so that we can start restoring power as quickly, as safely, and to as many people as possible.”
Mutual Aid Agreements enable municipal utilities to call on each other for emergency workers and supplies. Florida’s public power utilities benefit from this strong network of partners within Florida and across the country through the American Public Power Association. Florida’s municipal electric utilities also have forged mutual aid arrangements with Florida’s investor-owned utilities. These dependable connections have created a reliable system where member utilities both request and offer assistance.
FMPA Power Plants Prepped for Hurricane Irma
Power supplier to municipal utilities takes
steps to secure power generation capability
Florida Municipal Power Agency General Manager and CEO Jacob Williams issued a statement regarding preparations for Hurricane Irma.
“FMPA and its operating partners have been busy preparing its power plant sites in Key West, Fort Pierce, Kissimmee, Orlando and Port St. Lucie for Hurricane Irma. The plants are as ready as they can be, and we have put contingency plans in place should some of the generating units be impacted by the storm. We are doing all that we can to make sure we can generate power for our member cities during and after the storm.
“Essential plant personnel will be safely sheltered at the plants during the storm. As soon as the storm passes and conditions allow, the generating fleet will be assessed, including the units that were taken offline, for any damage. Generators will then be brought back online, if possible, and as needed.
“Hurricane Irma is a massive storm that has the potential for life-threatening damage. We have taken steps to be prepared for its impacts, and we encourage all Floridians to do the same.”
FMPA will post updates on FMPA’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
University of Florida prepares for possible National Policy Institute speaking engagement Oct. 19
The University of Florida is evaluating a request from the National Policy Institute to schedule a speaking event on campus for its president, white supremacist Richard Spencer, and is now considering a possible date of Oct. 19.
UF remained firm in its decision to deny space for an event on Sept. 12. However, this group has made a request for a new date. As a public institution, UF is required by law to make a good faith effort to provide options for a reasonable date, time and campus venue, no matter how much we detest the points of views expressed. As with any event, we also have a responsibility to assess safety and security risks, and will continue to do so until the event.
The university has set Thursday, Oct. 19 as the possible event date. We will now begin with the university’s regular protocols for evaluating the risks and associated costs. The university has been meeting daily for the past month with state, local and federal law enforcement agencies on a comprehensive campus and community security plan. The Oct. 19 date is not official until we are satisfied that we can avert safety risks, and that a formal facilities contract is signed and all appropriate rental and security costs have been paid.
UF deplores Spencer’s and the National Policy Institute’s rhetoric and views, which run counter to those of this institution. We also acknowledge that many of our students, faculty and staff are disproportionately impacted by their racism.
While this event is not in any way affiliated with the university, UF supports the constitutional right to free speech, and our role as a public university includes legal obligations to allow a wide range of viewpoints to be expressed by external groups – even when they are contrary to the core values of our university.
Commissioner Adam Putnam Encourages Floridians to Heed Evacuation Orders
Pet Owners Can Find Pet-friendly Options
Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam urges Floridians to heed evacuation orders as Hurricane Irma approaches. For pet and animal owners, there are options available so you can safely evacuate and also ensure the safety of your pets and animals.
“Don’t stay behind and ignore evacuation orders just because you don’t want to leave Fido. There are pet and animal-friendly options available, and now is the time to do your research,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. “Hurricane Irma is potentially catastrophic, and planning now can save your life and your pet’s life.”
Floridians can visit FreshFromFlorida.com and visit the “Hurricane Irma” webpage to find useful links, or directly visit these sites to find pet-friendly shelters:
- FloridaDisaster.org, Search by local county and note that some shelters require advanced notice.
- AKC’s Hurricane Irma Pet-Friendly Shelters
- PetFriendlyTravel.com provides information on pet-friendly lodging and shelters.
- Equine evacuation information can be found at FlaHorse.com.
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.
Gov. Scott Activates 3,000 Additional Florida National Guard Members to Assist with Hurricane Irma Preparedness
4,000 Guard Members Now Activated
Governor Rick Scott activated an additional 3,000 members of the Florida Army and Air National Guard to support with planning, logistics and operations in preparation for potential impacts from Hurricane Irma. A total of 4,000 members have now been activated and will respond to requests across the state to ensure communities are fully prepared for the storm. Tomorrow, 3,000 more National Guard members will be activated. As of Friday, the entire National Guard – 7,000 members – will be deployed.
Governor Scott said, “Today I am activating an additional 3,000 National Guardsmen to help with ongoing shelter operations and evacuations. We are expecting our state to have major impacts from Hurricane Irma and we are taking aggressive actions to make sure Florida is prepared. Today we will have more than 4,000 total Florida National Guard members activated, with all remaining members ready to report for duty first thing tomorrow to assist with preparation efforts. These men and women are putting themselves in harm’s way to save the lives of their fellow Floridians while many of their own families are evacuating. I am proud of their commitment to keeping our families safe.”
On Monday, Governor Scott issued Executive Order 17-235, which declared a state of emergency in all 67 counties within the State of Florida in response to Hurricane Irma and allowed for the immediate activation of National Guard members as preparedness actions continue.
