Florida News Straight From the Source
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam today surveyed damage in the Florida Keys and visited the Monroe County Emergency Operations Center to meet with those officials involved in emergency response and recovery efforts.
Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam will visit the Monroe County Emergency Operations Center tomorrow to meet with officials involved in the emergency response efforts in Monroe County.
Event: Commissioner Adam Putnam to Visit Monroe County Emergency Operations Center
Date: Friday, Sept. 15, 2017
Time: Media availability at approximately 11:45 a.m. (an additional advisory will be sent Fri.)
Location: Monroe County Emergency Operations Center
2798 Overseas Hwy
Marathon, Fla. 33050
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam today thanked U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue for taking action to modify the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in the wake of Hurricane Irma.
“I thank Secretary Perdue for his leadership and taking action in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma to assist Floridians,” stated Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam.
According to the USDA, the temporary waiver and other actions include the following:
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam today visited Adams Cold Storage in Auburndale, Fla., which is loading 200,000 meals for shipment to The Salvation Army in Ft. Myers, Naples, and Ft. Lauderdale as part of Hurricane Irma response efforts. The food is typically held for use by schools; however, in the wake of a disaster, the USDA makes it available to mass care organizations to feed those affected by a disaster.
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam issued the following statement regarding the deaths of Hardee County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Julie Ann Bridges and Sgt. Joseph Ossman with the Florida Department of Corrections:
“We can never take for granted the great personal sacrifices that our law enforcement officers and public servants make for us on a daily basis. My prayers are with Deputy Bridges and Sgt. Ossman’s families, loved ones and colleagues during this time of sorrow.”
In response to the westward shift of Hurricane Irma’s projected track toward the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend region, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam today announced the closure of three additional state forests in the to help ensure the safety of Florida residents and visitors. The grounds and all campsites, including primitive and RV, of Lake Talquin State Forest, Wakulla State Forest and Tate’s Hell State Forest are closed until further notice.
The following 30 state forests are closed and will remain closed until further notice:
Depending on Hurricane Irma’s tract, the Florida Forest Service may close additional state forest or campgrounds. The Florida Forest Service team is in constant communication with state and local emergency operations centers.
The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, manages more than 1 million acres of state forests and provides forest management assistance on more than 17 million acres of private and community forests. The Florida Forest Service is also responsible for protecting homes, forestland and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfire on more than 26 million acres. Learn more at FloridaForestService.com.
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.
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:
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.
Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam will visit the Polk County Emergency Operations Center tomorrow, Thursday, to discuss Hurricane Irma emergency preparations.
Event: Commissioner Adam Putnam and Polk County officials at Emergency Operations Center
Date: Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017
Time: 11:30 a.m. media availability
Location: Polk County Emergency Operations Center
1890 Jim Keene Blvd.
Winter Haven, Fla. 33880
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:
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.
