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Gov. Scott to Highlight the Importance of Hurricane Preparedness in the Florida Keys

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MEDIA ADVISORY

Tomorrow, June 8th, Governor Rick Scott will highlight the importance of getting prepared for the upcoming hurricane season and discuss ways families and businesses can get a plan.

WHAT: Press Conference
WHEN: 4:30 PM
WHERE: Key West City Hall
1300 White St
Key West, FL 33040

Gov. Scott Directs DEO to Enhance Workforce Housing in the Florida Keys

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Governor Scott today directed the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) to propose enhanced workforce housing in the Florida Keys as part of the continued efforts to recover from the tremendous impact Hurricane Irma had on the Keys. Hurricane Irma destroyed much of the housing that served the workforce population and the proposed Keys Workforce Housing Initiative will allow local governments to grant additional building permits for rental properties. This initiative will be presented to the Florida Cabinet at the next meeting.

Governor Scott said, “Hurricane Irma left a devastating impact on our state, especially in the Florida Keys and since the storm we have been working hard to rebuild even stronger than before. For business owners across the Keys, the availability of affordable workforce housing has been a challenge that was compounded by Hurricane Irma. The Keys Workforce Housing Initiative will provide much-needed access to workforce housing, allowing businesses the opportunity to grow while providing a plan to ensure Keys residents can evacuate safely before a storm.”

DEO is charged with reviewing local development decisions in the Florida Keys due to its legislative designation as an Area of Critical State Concern. State law requires that growth be limited in the Keys to ensure that residents can evacuate safely within 24 hours in advance of a hurricane. To meet the increased demand for workforce housing, the innovative Keys Workforce Housing Initiative will require new construction that participates to commit to evacuating renters in the 48-hour window of evacuation.

The initiative will allow up to 1,300 new building permits for workforce housing throughout the Florida Keys. Local governments that choose to participate in the initiative will work with DEO to amend their comprehensive plans to allow for additional building permits that meet these safety requirements.

Cissy Proctor, Executive Director of DEO, said, “As I have toured the damage from Hurricane Irma, the number one priority of business and community leaders is the need for more workforce housing. We are proud to provide an option to local governments that will help businesses have the talent they need to remain in the Keys and grow their companies. This solution will not only provide workforce housing for private-sector businesses but public servants, like law enforcement and teachers, as well. Our agency is committed to working with our partners in the Keys to provide ample workforce housing without compromising the safety of Floridians. We appreciate our partners at the Florida Division of Emergency Management for working with us to make sure Keys residents are still able to safely evacuate.”

Representative Holly Raschein said, “Hurricane Irma pushed the affordable housing problem in the Florida Keys to a critical state, decimating an already strained stock of housing for our workforce. I have discussed this concern with Governor Scott and the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) both in Tallahassee and during the Governor’s many visits to the Keys as he’s lead us through our recovery efforts. The plan Governor Scott has directed DEO to bring before Cabinet is a creative solution to the most pressing recovery challenge still facing the Florida Keys and I encourage all Cabinet members to support this proposal.”

Wes Maul, Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, said, “Our agency’s primary goal is the safety of Florida residents during disasters. The Keys Workforce Housing Initiative ensures the safety of tourists and residents of the Keys during major storms, while allowing critical economic development activities to continue. We appreciate DEO’s partnership in this endeavor.”

CFO Patronis Deploys Insurance Experts to the Florida Keys

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Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis today announced that the Department of Financial Services is sending insurance specialists to the Florida Keys to assist with the handling of Hurricane Irma claims.
CFO Patronis said, “The Keys are back open for business, but recovery efforts will continue in the weeks ahead and many residents are still in need of help with the filing of insurance claims on their damaged homes. I’ve seen the damage in the Keys firsthand, and I want homeowners to have the best possible advice at their fingertips when making important insurance decisions regarding repairs. We’re proud to be a resource as our fellow Floridians recover and rebuild from this historic storm.”
Beginning Friday, October 13 through Sunday, October 15, the Department will help facilitate five community insurance forums in Monroe County. Hosted in partnership with the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, the Monroe County Bar Association and a local non-profit group focused on securing fair insurance rates for area residents will also be in attendance.
The community forum locations are as follows:
Key West
Friday, October 13 | 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. EST
Harvey Government Center
1200 Truman Avenue
Lower Keys
Saturday, October 14 | 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. EST
Sugarloaf Fire Station
17175 Overseas Highway, Mile Marker 17
Marathon
Saturday, October 14 | 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. EST
Monroe County BOCC Chambers
2798 Overseas Highway
Islamorada
Sunday, October 15 | 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. EST
Whale Harbor
83413 Overseas Highway, Mile Marker 83.4
Key Largo
Sunday, October 15 | 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. EST
Murray Nelson Government Center
102050 Overseas Highway
Following these weekend events, the Department’s insurance specialists will remain in Monroe County to provide individual insurance assistance at area Capital Bank locations.
Beginning Monday, October 16 through Wednesday, October 18, insurance specialists will be available from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST at the following bank locations:
Capital Bank
2348 Overseas Highway
Marathon, FL
Capital Bank
30480 Overseas Highway
Big Pine Key, FL
Capital Bank
330 Whitehead Street
Key West, FL
Capital Bank
80900 Overseas Highway
Islamorada, FL
All Floridians and business owners can gain one-on-one insurance expertise by calling the Department’s toll-free Insurance Consumer Helpline at 1-877-MY-FL-CFO. The Department has also launched a Hurricane Season Insurance Resources website available by visiting www.myfloridacfo.com

Gov. Scott and HHS Secretary Discuss Hurricane Irma Recovery Efforts in Florida Keys

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Governor Rick Scott and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Tom Price today met with local and state officials in Monroe County to discuss Hurricane Irma response and recovery efforts in the Florida Keys. See updates on the state’s resources in Monroe County below.

STATE RESOURCES CURRENTLY BEING DIRECTED TO THE FLORIDA KEYS

FWC

  • FWC has more than 40 additional officers, including Special Operations Group (SOG), in Monroe County. These officers are working with National Guard members and an Urban Search and Rescue team to continue rescue operations in the Keys.

Florida National Guard

  • The Florida National Guard is operating seven points of distribution in Monroe County to ensure supplies, such as food and water, are quickly provided to those who need them.
  • The Florida National Guard is also manning the Logistical Staging Area in Marathon which distributes supplies to the points of distribution.

Florida Department of Transportation

  • FDOT damage assessment teams and debris removal crews areassessing damage and cleared U.S. 1 down to Key West.
  • FDOT is closely coordinating support of debris removal in off-systemroads in Monroe County. FDOT has cleared local roads in Big PineKey, Little Torch and Ramrod keys.
  • FDOT worked with ATT to install temporary towers so those with ATT phones should have normal connectivity.

Florida Highway Patrol

  • FHP continues to provide multiple escorts to the Keys to ensure the quick delivery of relief supplies, such as food to local supermarkets, portable toilets, water and resources with the Red Cross.
  • FHP has assigned troopers to assist Monroe County with traffic response throughout the Keys.
  • FHP has six troopers assigned to the Key West Police Department to assist with area law enforcement.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)

  • FDLE coordinated repairs to the state law enforcement radio system in Monroe County.
  • FDLE has coordinated dozens of law enforcement missions for Monroe County including local EOC staffing, patrol and supply missions for generators and ice.

Florida Department of Environmental Protection

  • At the state’s request, EPA issued a No Action Assurance to allow emergency and backup electric generating units in Monroe County to operate without meeting all pollution controls in order to facilitate the supply of needed electricity during and after Irma.
  • At DEP’s request, crews from Tennessee, South Carolina and North Carolina, as well as Miami Dade and Jupiter, have been deployed and are currently working on repairs along the 117-mile main line from Key Largo to Key West.
  • DEP continues to coordinate with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, FDOT, U.S. Coast Guard, FWC, and FEMA on debris removal statewide. DEP contractors are mobilizing to county-identified debris sites. The State has received 27 debris reports in Monroe County, 21 of which are vessels.
  • DEP contractors are en route to assist DEP employees with debris cleanup and repairs to Florida State Parks in Monroe County.

Additional Resources

  • The Following resources are mobilizing to be deployed to Monroe County: baby supply kits for 1,000 babies and food and water to support more than 100 first responders.
  • The following resources have been deployed to Monroe County: 3 trailers of ice, food and water, 2 trailers of ice, 7 truckloads of ice and 32 truckloads of food and water, 100,000 Dehydrated Meals to Salvation Army Warehouse, 36,000 bottles of water and 415 portable restrooms.
  • Since Saturday, the Salvation Army has served more than 13,000 hot meals throughout Monroe County from their staging area in Marathon.

FEMA

  • At the state’s request, as of September 16, 2017, FEMA transferred more than 7 million meals and more than 5 million liters of water and 74 generators to Florida.
  • Florida Keys residents with homes damaged by Hurricane Irma and hotels able to accommodate those Monroe County residents are eligible for assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which has activated its lodging program. FEMA’s Emergency Lodging Assistance (ELA) program provides temporary shelter and lodging reimbursement for pre-qualified individuals. Program administrator CLC Lodging provides rule-based payments for qualified applicants at participating hotels.

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

  • HHS response coordinators are working with federal and U.S. Virgin Islands territory agencies to identify long-term solutions for health care in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
  • HHS continues to provide the Disaster Distress Helpline (1-800-985-5990), which remains open 24/7 for free help coping with the stress of the storm.

Shelters

  • There are three shelters open in Monroe County.
    • Island Christian School
    • Marathon Middle High School
    • Sugarloaf School

Commissioner Adam Putnam Surveys Damage in Florida Keys, Visits Emergency Operations Center

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Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam
speaks with State Representative Holly Raschein at EOC.

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.

Gov. Scott: Our Focus is Getting Keys Residents Back Home

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Governor Rick Scott, and several state agency heads, today held meetings in the Florida Keys focused on how to assist Monroe County to quickly open the Keys to residents. Hurricane Irma made landfall on Cudjoe Key as a Category 4 storm on Sunday. Governor Scott toured damage in the Keys on Monday and Wednesday. The decision on when it’s safe for residents to return is made by Monroe County, but the Governor has committed full support of the state to help expedite that process. Local officials have indicated that a decision regarding residents returning will be made soon.
Governor Rick Scott said, “Florida is 100 percent focused on helping Monroe County get their residents home quickly and safely. This requires everyone working together and communicating around the clock. We are aggressively directing state resources to the Florida Keys. The power must get back on and the sewage system must be quickly fixed to ensure there are no health and safety issues. Residents of the Florida Keys need to be able to return to their normal lives.”
The Governor was joined by the Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection, the Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation, the State Surgeon General, the Director of the Division of Emergency Management, and the Executive Director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The Governor was also joined by members of FEMA, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the U.S. Navy.

STATE RESOURCES CURRENTLY BEING DIRECTED TO THE FLORIDA KEYS

FWC

  • FWC has 155 officers and 34 vessels in Monroe County including Special Operations Group (SOG) officers. These officers are working with National Guard Members and an Urban Search and Rescue team to continue rescue operations in the Keys.

Florida National Guard

  • The Florida National Guard is actively coordinating a multi-service effort to conduct life-saving operations in the Florida Keys. Guard Soldiers and Airmen are providing critical capabilities including road and runway clearance to support the delivery of critically needed supplies.
  • The Florida National Guard also established a Logistical Staging Area in Marathon with 76 National Guard members to distribute supplies to six points of distribution in Monroe County to ensure supplies, such as food and water, are quickly provided to those who need them.
  • Florida Army National Guard has staged assets in Opalocka, where they are actively conducting aerial operations to deliver life-saving supplies to the Florida Keys.
  • The Florida National Guard is currently operating two Command Post Nodes and two Joint Incident Site Communications Capability systems which support satellite communications systems to provide desperately needed communication capabilities in the Florida Keys. The Guard is working closely with Monroe County to identify any additional needs.

Florida Department of Transportation

  • FDOT damage assessment teams and debris removal crews are assessing damage and cleared U.S. 1 down to Key West. FDOT has also completed bridge inspection on 26 off-system bridges at the request of Monroe County.
  • FDOT is closely coordinating support of debris removal in off-system roads in Monroe County. Crews are out now in Big Pine Key and working their way into other locations as directed by the county.
  • FDOT worked with ATT to install temporary towers so those with ATT phones should have normal connectivity.
  • Current damage repairs include:
    • Mile Marker 74.5 – Sea Oates Beach temp work was complete yesterday by 3 PM.  Permanent pavement was finished Thursday.
    • Mile Marker 37 (four-lane divided section) – Embankment work was finished Thursday.  Permanent pavement repairs will be completed Friday.
    • Inspection of all shoulder failures was competed Thursday. Work will be scheduled beginning next week.
    • Traffic signal repairs will begin Friday and signage repairs and installation will begin next week.

Florida Highway Patrol

  • FHP is providing traffic escorts to resources in route to the Keys, such as fuel tankers, food and water deliveries, mobile restrooms, and seven AT&T communication trucks to assist with communication coverage in Monroe County.
  • FHP has a squad of troopers assigned to Key West to assist with any local law enforcement needs.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)

  • FDLE is coordinating repairs to the state law enforcement radio system and establishing temporary communications for first responders in Monroe County.
  • FDLE has coordinated dozens of law enforcement missions for Monroe County including local EOC staffing and security.

Florida Department of Environmental Protection

  • At the state’s request, EPA issued a No Action Assurance to allow emergency and backup electric generating units in Monroe County to operate without meeting all pollution controls in order to facilitate the supply of needed electricity during and after Irma.
  • DEP staff requested an Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) for 10 crews to assist the 117-mile main line repairs need from Key Largo to Key West. Currently, Tennessee and South Carolina are working to deploy teams this morning, to be escorted by law enforcement once in Florida. One team from the City of Jupiter was on the ground yesterday to assist the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority in laying pipeline and assessing breaches. To further supplement work until additional teams arrive, Miami-Dade water and sewer department has assembled two teams to start work.

Additional Resources

  • The Following resources are mobilizing to be deployed to Monroe County: baby supply kits for 1,000 babies and food and water to support more than 100 first responders.
  • The following resources are in route to Monroe County: 3 trailers of ice, food and water, 2 trailers of ice, 7 truckloads of ice and 1 truckload of food, and 40 industrial portable restrooms.
  • The following resources have been delivered/supplied to Monroe County: 100,000 Dehydrated Meals to Salvation Army Warehouse, 36,000 bottles of water and 100 individual portable restrooms that have been place along every mile marker along US1.

Utilities

  • Monroe County utility providers:
    • Keys Electric (lower keys – South end of Seven Mile Bridge to Key West)
      • 31,183 accounts
      • 80% of all accounts are still without power
    • Keys Electric Cooperative (upper keys)
      • 32,500 accounts
      • 28% of all accounts are still without power

FEMA

  • As of September 12, 2017, FEMA transferred approximately 3.8 million meals and 3.4 million liters of water to states in the Southeast, at the states’ requests.
  • Current resources available to Florida include: more than 315,000 meals, more than 390,000 liters of water, and 150 generators

LOCAL UPDATES IN THE FLORIDA KEYS

The Port of Key West

  • Remains closed to all boat traffic until the U.S. Coast Guard has determined that all areas surrounding the port are safe. Submerged vessels are still blocking the main channel and the U.S. Coast Guard has determined that the area surrounding the port is unsafe.
  • The U.S. Coast Guard is patrolling the area and is preventing any boats from entering the restricted area.

Food and Water Distribution

  • Six distribution centers are established in Monroe County to ensure supplies, such as food and water, are able to be quickly provided to those who need them. Distribution sites will be open daily from noon until 6:00 p.m.
  • The Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority has opened their storage tanks for water distribution.

Boil Water Order

  • A Boil Water Notice is still in effect across the Keys.

Medical Services

  • Mariners Hospital in Tavernier has opened its emergency room.
  • A medical care center has been established at Marathon City Hall with the support of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Grocery Stores

  • The Winn-Dixie and Publix grocery stores are open in Key Largo with limited hours.
  • The CVS Pharmacy in Key Largo opened Wednesday.

Fuel

  • Monroe County has reported that fuel remains limited in the Keys but gas stations are beginning to open up to the public, especially in the Upper Keys. The Marlin at MM 88, the Valero at MM 92 and the Circle K at MM 102 were open this morning.

Insurance

  • Citizens Property Insurance Corporation has opened a Catastrophe Response Center at the Murray Nelson Government Center in Key Largo. Policy holders can file claims, confirm coverage and receive advance payments for additional living expenses when appropriate. For more information, click HERE.

Nelson: Keep oil drilling out of Florida Keys

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Sen. Bill Nelson today sent a letter to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross strongly urging the new administration to keep oil and gas drilling away from the Florida Keys.
Nelson’s letter comes in response to an executive order the president signed Friday ordering the Department of the Interior to determine how many energy and mineral resources are available in designated national marine sanctuaries, such as the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Nelson, who filed legislation last week that would block the Interior Secretary from opening additional areas to offshore drilling until at least 2022, cited the significant environmental and economic impact that drilling in the Florida Keys sanctuary would have on Florida.
“Against clear congressional intent, the president’s Executive Order directs your departments to tally the oil and minerals contained in national marine sanctuaries like the Florida Keys,” Nelson wrote. “Seismic testing and other preleasing drilling activities directly conflict with the laws that created the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and I strongly urge you to refrain from allowing any oil and gas activities in the Florida Keys.”
Below is the full text of Nelson’s letter, and here is a signed PDF copy.

May 1, 2017

The Honorable Wilbur Ross
Secretary
U.S. Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20230
The Honorable Ryan Zinke
Secretary
U.S. Department of the Interior
1849 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20240
Dear Secretary Zinke and Secretary Ross,
I am gravely concerned that the Presidential Executive Order issued Friday, April 28th, represents a significant economic and environmental threat to Florida—and it violates both the spirit and the text of the law regarding National Marine Sanctuaries.
The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (NMS) is a gem among many in Florida’s tourism-based economy, generating $4.4 billion in annual revenue for the local community and supporting over 70,000 jobs. It is home to over 6000 species of marine life, the third largest living coral barrier reef system in the world, and an estimated 1,000 shipwrecks. Fourteen historic sites in Florida Keys NMS are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
This area is of such national importance that in response to environmental threats, including oil drilling, Congress designated the Florida Keys as a National Marine Sanctuary in 1990 “to protect and preserve living and other resources of the Florida Keys marine environment.”
Against clear congressional intent, the president’s Executive Order directs your departments to tally the oil and minerals contained in national marine sanctuaries like the Florida Keys—presumably by using seismic air gun blasts in some of the most sensitive and important habitats in our ocean.
Seismic testing and other preleasing drilling activities directly conflict with the laws that created the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and I strongly urge you to refrain from allowing any oil and gas activities in the Florida Keys.

Sincerely,