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Hurricane Irma

Sen. Bill Nelson asks FTC to monitor price gouging ahead of Irma

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U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) today asked the head of the Federal Trade Commission to begin closely monitoring and, if necessary, take swift action against retailers engaged in price gouging as Florida prepares for Hurricane Irma.
“As Hurricane Irma preparations begin in earnest, it is essential that first responders and evacuees in Florida are able to access gasoline and other refined petroleum products free from price distortions caused by anticompetitive practices,” Nelson wrote in a letter to Acting FTC Chairman, Maureen Ohlhausen. “Accordingly, I ask that you closely monitor retail gasoline outlet pricing in the coming weeks to detect and defeat any price gouging schemes.”
Following is the text of Nelson’s letter to the FTC:

September 5, 2017

The Honorable Maureen K. Ohlhausen
Acting Chairman
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20580
Dear Acting Chairman Ohlhausen:
I write today to urge the commission to closely monitor retail gasoline prices in the wake of Hurricane Harvey and in anticipation of Hurricane Irma’s impact, and take swift action against retailers that attempt to use this tragedy to engage in consumer price gouging.
Hurricane Harvey has caused billions of dollars in damage in Texas and Louisiana, and uprooted tens of thousands of families. In addition, it has had a substantial impact on oil refining operations. Over the past week, we have seen efforts to offset the gasoline price increases attributable to supply disruption, including the release of one million barrels of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to a refinery in Louisiana that was largely unaffected by the storm. These efforts appear to have stabilized wholesale gasoline prices.
Unfortunately, Hurricane Irma now poses a grave threat to Florida and many other areas of the Southeastern United States. While continued disruption to some refinery operations may continue to contribute to higher retail gasoline prices, past experience in Florida and elsewhere has shown that some unscrupulous operators will seek to magnify these natural price increases to take advantage of consumers – including those that may be trying to prepare for or evacuate from an impending hurricane.
Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Congress directed the commission to study the price gouging issue and determine the need for further action in this area. In a 2006 report on this issue, the commission stated that “it has a strong role to play in this area” by both “enforcing the antitrust laws strictly to prohibit business behavior that has anticompetitive effects” and continuing to “remain vigilant about any distortions that may harm competition or consumers in petroleum markets.”
As Hurricane Harvey rescue and recovery operations continue and as Hurricane Irma preparations begin in earnest, it is essential that first responders and evacuees in Florida are able to access gasoline and other refined petroleum products free from price distortions caused by anticompetitive practices.
Accordingly, I ask that you closely monitor retail gasoline outlet pricing in the coming weeks to detect and defeat any price gouging schemes. Thank you in advance for your assistance with this critical consumer and public safety issue.

Sincerely,

Sen. Bill Nelson on Hurricane Irma

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Following is a statement from U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) as Florida prepares for Hurricane Irma:
“I’ve talked to Brock Long, the head of FEMA, he’s ready and is prepositioning people and supplies around the state. I’m talked to the commandant of the Coast Guard, Admiral Zukunft, and he is already prepositioning ships and aircraft to come in right after the storm hits. I’ve talked to Col. Kirk with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, he’s ready and says Lake Okeechobee still has the capacity to hold another three feet of water before this hurricane would threaten the dike. I spoke to General Calhoun with the Florida National Guard. They are ready and prepositioned.And I’ve talked to the secretary of transportation, Elaine Chao, and asked her to urge the state to go ahead and lift the tolls on South Florida’s roadways, particularly I-95 and Florida’s Turnpike, to make it easier for folks who are starting to evacuate.”

Gov. Scott Issues Updates on Hurricane Irma Preparedness

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Governor Rick Scott today received a full update on Hurricane Irma from the State Emergency Operations Center. Governor Scott has been in constant communication with state and local emergency management officials, law enforcement, school superintendents and county leaders who are also working to ensure the state is prepared to respond to any potential impacts from Hurricane Irma. Yesterday, Governor Scott issued Executive Order 17-235 declaring a state of emergency in all 67 counties within the State of Florida. Governor Scott today requested that President Donald Trump declare a pre-landfall emergency for the State of Florida in preparation for Hurricane Irma to provide important preparation resources and assistance from the federal government. The State Emergency Operations Center has been activated to level one, which is a full-scale, 24-hours-a-day activation.
EMERGENCY SUPPORT FUNCTIONS BY STATE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM
MILITARY SUPPORT

  • Governor Scott activated 100 members of the Florida Air and Army National Guard to support with planning, logistics and operations in preparation for potential impacts from Hurricane Irma. These 100 members will be stationed in across the state.
  • At the direction of Governor Scott, all 7,000 National Guard members will be reporting for duty Friday morning. Additional guard members will be activated this week as needed.
  • In addition, 13 helicopters and more than 1,000 tactical high wheeled trucks are on standby.
  • Florida has identified air assets and resources from the North Carolina National Guard and is also coordinating with nearby states to assist with evacuations from the Florida Keys.
  • The Florida National Guard is coordinating with the National Guard Bureau to identify approximately 30,000 troops, 4,000 trucks, 100 helicopters, and Aero-Evacuation crews that are standing by for Hurricane Irma support, if needed.

LAW ENFORCEMENT

  • The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is preparing search and rescue teams for potential deployment. All teams that were deployed to Texas have since returned or are in the process of returning.
  • The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, and other partnering agencies are identifying resources for deployment if necessary to respond to the storm.
  • The division of the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is monitoring road and traffic conditions to ensure the roadways are clear and working with the Division of Emergency Management to ensure consistent messaging is provided statewide.
  • The division of Motorist Services has its Florida Licensing on Wheels (FLOW) mobiles on standby and will deploy them to impacted areas as needed.

TRANSPORTATION & PUBLIC WORKS

  • The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is holding teleconferences with districts and agency partners such as the Army Corps of Engineers, Water Management Districts, and Federal Highway Administration to ensure all infrastructure needs are met.
  • FDOT will continue to reach out to county emergency operations centers directly to coordinate any necessary response actions, including activating traffic counters, providing local evacuation support and providing maintenance of traffic and other assistance.
  • The state is monitoring conditions at all airports and seaports. As of now, there are no closed airports or seaports.
  • Governor Scott has rescinded all weight and driver restrictions for highways so water, food, fuel and emergency supplies can be quickly brought to Florida.

HUMAN SERVICES:

  • While the state is working as quickly as possible to fill grocery store shelves with water and other emergency resources, it is important to be considerate of neighbors and take only what each family needs to be prepared.
  • The state is staging mass care supplies such as meals, shelter support trailers and portable water at the State Logistic Resource Center in Orlando for deployments as needed.
  • The state is also establishing local points of contact with mass care organizations and volunteer agencies, including working with the American Red Cross to coordinate sheltering and feeding operations. The American Red Cross has also established a Disaster Relief Operation (DRO) in Orlando.
  • The Department of Business and Professional Regulation and Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is running projection models for human-services’ needs (such as food and sheltering) based on a major hurricane impacting the state.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS

  • The Florida Department of Education is in contact with school districts, state colleges and universities for updates before, during and after emergency events.
  • At this time, all school districts and colleges are monitoring Irma and her path.
  • Districts are preparing in the case that their facilities are needed for shelters. Colleges are making emergency preparations on their campuses and working with students who may need assistance with relocation.

BUSINESS, INDUSTRY, & ECONOMIC STABILIZATION

  • The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and the Division of Emergency Management (DEM) created an event in the Florida Virtual Business Emergency Operations Center (FLVBEOC) for Hurricane Irma and are currently updating with up-to-date storm information, situation reports and resources for the business community. FLVBEOC is available at www.flvbeoc.org.
  • We have activated the Private Sector Hotline at 850-815-4925. The hotline is available for business inquiries about the storm, preparedness information and post-impact information.

ELECTRIC & NATURAL GAS UTILITIES (Public Service Commission)

  • Utilities have been put on notice to start reporting outage and restoral information when notified to begin.
  • Utilities are contacting their mutual aid partners to determine availability if external resources are needed to restore services.
  • Monitoring the power grid for sufficient power in the state and the natural gas infrastructure for any damages that can cause a loss of service to power plants.
  • The state is also requesting utilities to identify any staging areas needed outside of Florida and requesting the status of all nuclear facilities in the event a shutdown is necessary.

INSURANCE

  • The Department of Financial Services and the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) has activated its internal Incident Management Team (IMT) for coordination of activities related to Hurricane Irma and is preparing to respond to deployments as needed, and prepared to order property insurers to submit claims information from Hurricane Irma.
  • Additionally, in response to the Governor’s Office Executive Order, OIR has notified all entities writing health insurance in the state of their statutory obligation to allow for early prescription refills. OIR is also coordinating with the Agency for Healthcare Administration and Department of Health.
  • The Chief Financial Officer DFS is encouraging all Floridians to keep all insurance and banking information in one, easily-accessible place, consumers can download a copy of the Department’s free Emergency Financial Preparedness Toolkit. The Toolkit serves as a one-stop shop for all finance, emergency and insurance contact information. Download and complete the toolkit today.
  • OIR has updated its “Hurricane Season Resources” webpage, which contains links to information provided by the Governor, Chief Financial Officer, Attorney General, Commissioner of Agriculture, Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Flood Insurance Program, and contact information for Florida’s property insurers.

FUELS

  • The state is contacting fuel industry partners (e.g., Florida Petroleum Council, Florida Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association); there are no reported supply, distribution or retail fuel shortages or issues.
  • The state is monitoring fuel assistance requests and has contacted emergency fuel and equipment providers for status of emergency fuel supply and equipment.
  • While the state is working as quickly as possible to bring fuel to communities, as Floridians prepare, it is important to be considerate of neighbors and take only what each family needs to be prepared.

PUBLIC HEALTH AND MEDICAL

  • The Florida Department of Health (DOH) is coordinating with hospitals and healthcare facilities across Florida on potential evacuation needs.
  • DOH is preparing to set up and coordinate staffing for special needs shelters.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

  • The state has contacted telecommunications partners to activate protective action plans and procedures for Central Offices, tower sites, mobile response units and any other critical infrastructure.
  • Telecommunications Partners are monitoring fuel levels for generators and back-up power supply.
  • The state is drafting 24-hour staffing schedules and all Telecommunications remain on standby to respond if required.
  • At this point, no out of ordinary reports of any major outages.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

  • The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) staff is currently conducting baseline shoreline assessments to help evaluate beach impacts.
  • DEP is reaching out to drinking and wastewater facilities to help ensure preparation steps are being taken.
  • All state parks remain open at this time, but no new camping reservations will be accepted for the next 10 days.
  • The South Florida Water Management District has begun lowering water levels in canals and moving as much water as possible to tide and south through flood control structures throughout its flood control system in preparation for the storm.
  • Routine inspections of the Herbert Hoover Dike are taking place and additional inspections will begin once the lake approaches 17 feet. The lake level is currently at 13.67 feet.

CONTACTS:

  • The State Emergency Operations Center Media Line: 850-921-0217.
  • Follow @FLSert or @FLGovScott on Twitter for live updates on Hurricane Irma.
  • Visit http://www.floridadisaster.org to find information on shelters, road closures, and evacuation routes.

Gov. Scott Activates 100 Florida National Guard Members to Assist with Hurricane Irma Preparedness

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7,000 Guard Members Will Report for Duty Friday Morning

Governor Rick Scott activated 100 members of the Florida Air and Army National Guard to support with planning, logistics and operations in preparation for potential impacts from Hurricane Irma. These 100 members will be stationed across the state, and will advise the Governor on available and needed resources to ensure communities are fully prepared for the storm. In addition, at the direction of Governor Scott, all 7,000 National Guard members will be reporting for duty Friday morning. Yesterday, 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.
Governor Scott said, “Today I am activating 100 members of the Florida Air and Army National Guard to immediately begin assisting with ongoing Hurricane Irma preparation. Per my direction, they will be stationed throughout the state. I have also directed all 7,000 guard members to report for duty this Friday, however, if resources are needed before then, I stand ready to activate as many guard members needed to support our aggressive preparedness actions. With Hurricane Irma now a category 5 storm, we must do all we can to prepare our families and communities for any potential impact from this major weather event. We do not know the exact path of this storm, but weather can change in an instant and while we hope for the best, we must prepare for the worst.”

CFO Patronis Urges Floridians to #GetAPlan Ahead of Hurricane Irma

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As Hurricane Irma continues to strengthen, Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis is urging Floridians to prepare now for possible Florida impact. Residents should take steps immediately to ensure their family is prepared to possibly weather this major category 5 storm, the most intense on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
CFO Patronis said, “Hurricane Irma is a major and dangerous storm, and Floridians must take steps now to make sure their families are prepared. There’s no reason to wait, and families have everything to gain by taking a proactive approach. Consumers should stock up on necessary supplies, and families should discuss their disaster and evacuation plans well ahead of the storm’s landfall.”
CFO Patronis also reminds Floridians that hurricane preparedness extends beyond bottled water and batteries, and is strongly encouraging all consumers to include copies of their insurance policies and cards, insurance company contact information and financial account(s) records inside their family disaster kit.
Homeowners should take these specific steps to protect their homes and property:

  • Inventory your high-dollar household items, including receipts, purchase dates, and serial numbers. Photograph or videotape your possessions. Keep copies of this information with your insurance policies and cards in a safe place. Store the originals in a safe deposit box, if possible.
  • Print insurance policies and take note of hurricane deductibles. Most policies have a hurricane deductible equivalent to 2 to 5 percent of a home’s insured value. If your property is damaged, you will be responsible for a portion of the repair costs.
  • Write down the name, address, and claims-reporting telephone number of your insurance company, which may differ from your agent’s contact information. Keep this information in a safe place and make sure you have access to it if you must evacuate.
  • Shore up your structure. Buy materials that can secure your property and minimize your losses. Cover your windows with shutters, siding, or plywood. Move vehicles into a garage or carport. Grills and patio furniture should be taken inside.

To keep all insurance and banking information in one, easily-accessible place, consumers can download a copy of the Department’s free Emergency Financial Preparedness Toolkit. The Toolkit serves as a one-stop shop for all finance, emergency and insurance contact information. Download and complete the toolkit today.
Following the storm, if consumers sustain damage to their home or property, the Department’s toll-free Insurance Consumer Helpline staff can walk Floridians through the post-storm insurance claims filing process. The Helpline number is 1-877-693-5236.

Commissioner Adam Putnam Encourages Floridians to Prepare for Hurricane Irma

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Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam urges Floridians to prepare for Hurricane Irma now.
“Hurricane Irma is a Category 5 hurricane, and the time to prepare is now,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. “Make sure you and your loved ones have a disaster preparedness plan and all necessary supplies in case Florida is impacted. For regular updates, visit FloridaDisaster.org.”
Floridians can take the following steps to prepare for Hurricane Irma:

  • Have a Plan: Know what you and your family will do in an emergency. Research the locations of hurricane shelters and find out if you can take your pet. Make sure everyone in your house knows the plan and where your emergency supplies are stored.
  • Identify Pet-Friendly Shelters: Do your research ahead of time to find pet-friendly shelters. Do not stay behind when you should evacuate to remain with your pets, take them with you.
  • Prepare a Kit: Keep a kit stocked with emergency supplies. This should include a three-day supply of food and water for each family member. Plan for one gallon of water per person per day. Supplies should also include: cash, blankets and sleeping bags, first-aid kits, battery-powered radios, flashlights and extra batteries, clothing, necessary medications, pet care, a list of important phone numbers and important documents stored in waterproof containers.
  • Stay Informed: Keep up-to-date on the latest weather information. Watch local news and weather, listen for radio updates or stay informed with your computer or smartphone.

In addition to these tips, it is imperative to have an adequate supply of food and water during a disaster.

  • Keep an appliance thermometer in your fridge and freezer to provide an accurate temperature reading even if the power is out. A freezer should be at or below 0°F and the fridge at 40°F.
  • Store food on shelves high enough that it will not be contaminated in case of flood.
  • Have coolers on hand to keep food cold if the power is out more than four hours. Keep the fridge and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
  • Discard perishables, such as meat, fish, cheese, milk, eggs, leftovers and deli items, if the power is out more than four hours.
  • Use bottled water if you are concerned about your water supply. If you don’t have bottled water, boil water and let it cool before storing to drink.

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.
For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FreshFromFlorida.com.

Attorney General Bondi Activates Price Gouging Hotline as Hurricane Irma Approaches

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Attorney General Pam Bondi tonight activated Florida’s price gouging hotline for all consumers in Florida. The opening of the hotline comes as Governor Rick Scott declares a state of emergency in all 67 Florida counties in response to threats posed by Hurricane Irma—now a Category 4 hurricane that could impact the state this week.
“Floridians need to prepare now and they should not be inhibited by unlawful price increases on supplies necessary to brace for a major hurricane strike—that is why I’ve activated Florida’s Price Gouging Hotline and encourage anyone who suspects price gouging to report it to my office by calling (866)-9-NO-SCAM,” said Attorney General Bondi. “By reporting suspected price gouging you can protect yourself and your fellow Floridians.”
State law prohibits extreme increases in the price of essential commodities, such as food, water, hotels, ice, gasoline, lumber and equipment, needed as a direct result of an officially declared emergency. Anyone who suspects price gouging during this declared state of emergency should report it to the Attorney General’s Office by calling 1-866-9-NO-SCAM.
Violators of the price gouging statute are subject to civil penalties of $1,000 per violation and up to a total of $25,000 for multiple violations committed in a single 24-hour period, in addition to other civil penalties that may apply. State law also criminalizes the sale of goods and services to the public without possession of an occupational license. Violators of the law can be charged with a second-degree misdemeanor.
Specifically, Section 501.160 Florida Statute states that during a state of emergency, it is unlawful to sell, lease, offer to sell, or offer for lease essential commodities, dwelling units, or self-storage facilities for an amount that grossly exceeds the average price for that commodity during the 30 days before the declaration of the state of emergency, unless the seller can justify the price by showing increases in its costs or market trends.

Gov. Scott Declares State of Emergency to Prepare Florida for Hurricane Irma

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Governor Rick Scott today issued Executive Order 17-235 declaring a state of emergency in all 67 counties within the State of Florida in response to Hurricane Irma – a major Category 3 storm approaching Florida. By declaring a state of emergency in all 67 Florida counties, Governor Scott is ensuring that local governments have ample time, resources and flexibility to get prepared for this dangerous storm and are not hindered, delayed or prevented from taking all necessary actions to keep communities safe.
Governor Scott said, “Hurricane Irma is a major and life-threatening storm and Florida must be prepared. I have continued to be briefed by the Florida Division of Emergency Management on Hurricane Irma and current forecast models have Florida in Irma’s path – potentially impacting millions of Floridians. Today, given these forecasts and the intensity of this storm, I have declared a state of emergency for every county in Florida to make certain that state, federal and local governments are able to work together and make sure resources are dispersed to local communities as we get prepared for this storm. In Florida, we always prepare for the worst and hope for the best and while the exact path of Irma is not absolutely known at this time, we cannot afford to not be prepared. This state of emergency allows our emergency management officials to act swiftly in the best interest of Floridians without the burden of bureaucracy or red tape.
“In Florida, we know that the best way to protect our families in severe weather is to have a plan. I urge all Floridians to remain vigilant and stay alert to local weather and news and visit FLGetAPlan.com today as we all prepare for Hurricane Irma. We will keep monitoring and issuing updates on Hurricane Irma as it approaches Florida.”