YANKEETOWN -- Governor Ron DeSantis says power crews are making progress restoring service after Hurricane Idalia.
DeSantis says only 39,000 people remain in the dark around the state. He and Commerce Secretary Alex Kelly expect to have all customers back on line by midweek. DeSantis says Duke Energy is almost finished reconnecting customers. Most of those still lacking electricity are customers of rural co-ops.
The governor says the Florida Department of Emergency Management is sending travel trailers to residents in affected counties whose homes were destroyed or left unlivable by storm surge. He says they're also in the process of setting up base camps to allow recovery workers to set up near the disaster zones. That's been a problem because these communities have few hotel rooms nearby, and what few facilities exist were damaged by Idalia.
Kelly also announced that the state is rolling out special disaster unemployment assistance, for people who don't qualify for regular state or federal assistance. Work search requirements are waived, as well as a waiting period and registration with Employ Florida.
The governor said hurricanes have become "politicized" and are nothing new, pointing out that storms such as the 1935 Labor Day hurricane have wreaked havoc in Florida long before discussion of man-made climate change. "We've got to stop politicizing natural disasters... The notion that if we somehow adopt very left-wing policies at the federal level, we will not have hurricanes, is a big lie." DeSantis said activists were trying to advance their cause "on the backs of people that are suffering." Climate activists argue that rising temperatures are creating higher than ever recorded levels of heat in bodies of water such as the Gulf, providing more fuel that allows hurricanes to grow quickly as they approach shore.
State and federal authorities also announced that Pinellas County has been added to the list of counties where individual assistance is available. Storm surge damaged homes in St. Petersburg, and the American Red Cross has opened a shelter at Allendale United Methodist Church. St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch has approved allowing the use of RVs and travel trailers in residential lots for six months.
Photo: Getty Images4