More than 200,000 Floridians were still without power Sunday morning after Hurricane Helene, according to Gov. Ron DeSantis.
More than 86,000 customers still without power in Florida ’s Big Bend area after Hurricane Helene See these super helpful Insider Deals for beauty and around the house– More than 86,000 Floridians were still without power on Monday morning after Hurricane Helene , according to Gov. Ron DeSantis.made landfall as a powerful Category 4 storm in the Big Bend region late Thursday night. The deaths included traffic fatalities and people directly impacted by the storm surge.
The Operation Blue Ridge multi-state agency response will include the Florida Division of Emergency Management, Florida State Guard, Florida National Guard, Florida Department of Transportation, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and a Florida Law Enforcement Coordination Task Force, and a Law Enforcement Strike Team.
The State Emergency Response Team is engaged in over 2,300 missions to assist counties in their preparation efforts. These missions accomplish vital tasks like staging response resources, protecting critical infrastructure facilities like hospitals and utility stations, and coordinating personnel statewide.
The FSG Maritime Response Squadron continues to support FWC in flooded areas with boats and chainsaws.The FSG Crisis Response Battalion set up 3 points of distribution providing supplies to 441 vehicles in Steinhatchee/Taylor County. Facilitated emergency management and public safety leaders’ reconnaissance flights for Dixie County over their impacted areas, allowing the respective leadership to appropriately direct their response resources.
FWC officers deployed to Cedar Key, Yankeetown, Suwannee Town, Horseshoe Beach, Steinhatchee, Keaton Beach, Old Town, Gulf Hammock, Fowler’s Bluff and Rocky Creek to perform welfare checks on residents who did not evacuate. They utilized specialized equipment to push their way in, locate and account for all residents assigned to their team. Once the welfare checks were completed, teams assisted with clearing roads and worked with local partners to fulfill any other missions.
FWC Captive Wildlife Investigators continued to contact permittees including facilities that were not in the direct path of the storm. Homosassa State Park reported that due to flooding they were unable to get to their animals. Investigators assisted with a drone to verify the animals were secure. The Florida Department of Transportation has over 2,100 FDOT team members working directly on storm response.61 Cut and Toss crews completely cleared I-10 in under 6 hours of the storm making landfall.
All 3 causeways in the Greater Tampa Bay region experienced either damage or debris that caused FDOT to close these bridges following the storm. All 3 causeways were repaired and cleared within 24 hours of Helene’s landfall. FDOT assisted rail industry partners and utility companies in removing downed power lines and fiberoptic cables across rail lines in impacted areas to ensure efficient mobility of goods and supplies throughout Florida’s rail network.FDOT has lifted weight restrictions and is allowing bypass of weigh stations for emergency response vehicles, including utility vehicles staging for rapid response.
Robert H. Jenkins Jr. Veterans’ Domiciliary Home in Lake City lost power and is currently on generator.Disaster Legal Hotline is open to assist and refer callers: 833-514-2940 APD Hope Florida Navigators, APD emergency recovery teams, and leadership have deployed to multiple Hope Florida distribution locations today.
At this time, one Boil Water Notice has been rescinded for Marion County as a result of Hurricane Helene. DOH and the Office of Insurance Regulation sent information regarding early prescription refills permitted under Executive Order 24-209. This information was sent to the public, health insurers, managed care organizations, pharmacy benefit managers, pharmacy chains, and health care providers.
AHCA has made 1754 phone calls to health care facilities in the impacted area, to check their status.100% of operating long-term care facilities have a generator on-site. The Generator Status Map for long-term care facilities is available here.The Agency has waived all prior authorization requirements for critical Medicaid services until further notice.The Florida Highway Patrol cut teams and FDOT road clearing teams are provided aid to areas impacted by the storm.
8 FHP drone teams and a fixed-wing aircraft are actively assisting with search and rescue efforts and storm damage assessment in Steinhatchee and Keaton Beach in Taylor County, Cedar Key in Levy County, and Horseshoe Beach in Dixie County.FHP is providing security at storm response fuel sites. The Department of Children and Families is supporting 27 shelters serving over 740 individuals and has delivered over 163,400 meals, 320,300 bottles of water, and 42,650 snacks to 19 counties.
The Hope Bus was stationed at Taylor County Middle School in Taylor County, The Bridge Church in Madison County, South Holiday Branch Library in Pasco County, and State College of Florida – Bradenton Campus in Manatee County on Sunday, September 29, and distributed baby items, snacks, water, and nonperishable items, and other essential resources to individuals and families in need.
Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr. and Department staff will be passing out free, hot meals at Jefferson County School on Monday, September 30, 2024. Lunch will be served at 12 p.m. and dinner will be served at 4 p.m. with snacks available throughout the day.The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is actively working to provide assistance to drinking water, wastewater, and hazardous waste facilities. Outreach to these facilities to determine operational status is ongoing.
DEP is working in conjunction with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Coast Guard to identify oil spills and hazardous material releases in coastal and inland waterways. DEP requested a mobile testing lab from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to help process drinking water samples for the protection of public health. DEP is gathering supplies and testing kits for utilization by the lab, as well as identifying a staging area.
DBPR encourages Florida’s licensed contractors who provide post-storm construction-related services to register with its Florida Disaster Contractors Network at DCNOnline.org. Since Hurricane Helene’s landfall, more than 5,200 licensed contractors have registered with Florida’s DCN. FloridaCommerce activated the private sector hotline at 815-4925, open daily 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Inquiries may also be emailed to
The Wawa Community Care Coffee Truck has been deployed to Taylor County, providing free coffee and water to residents impacted by the storm. VISIT FLORIDA Emergency Accommodation Modules on Expedia, Priceline and Booking.com will remain available to provide real-time hotel availability and lodging resources for impacted Floridians and visitors.
FloridaCommerce and the Florida Department of Children and Families will be distributing supplies is continuing to provide resources to families and businesses in Lafayette County at the Alton Church of God, 12-5pm; Pasco County at the West Pasco YMCA, 10am-2pm; Manatee County at the State College of Florida Bradenton Campus, 12am-5pm; and Taylor County at the Steinhatchee Community Center, 10am-4pm, Monday, September 30, 2024.
The Florida Department of State, Division of Elections, has contacted the United States Postal Service about election information and vote-by-mail ballots. The Division of Elections recommended that the Supervisors of Elections contact their local district USPS to discuss a mitigation plan for ballot
Fuel inspectors are responding to impacted areas to ensure retail fuel dispensers are working properly and testing the quality of fuel. As of 3 p.m. on Sept. 30, inspectors have completed 3,742 assessments of food establishments in impacted regions. 3,122 facilities are open for business.
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