5/28/2018

Governor Scott Issues Updates on Subtropical Storm Alberto Preparedness Efforts 5/27/18

Governor Rick Scott received a full update on Subtropical Storm Alberto from the Florida Division of Emergency Management and spoke with state agency leaders and sheriffs from 12 Florida counties. The Governor will continue to be in constant communication with state and local emergency management officials and state agency leaders to ensure the state is prepared to respond to any potential impacts from Subtropical Storm Alberto. Yesterday, Governor Scott declared a state of emergency in all 67 Florida counties.

See below for more information on what the State of Florida is doing to support Subtropical Storm Alberto preparedness efforts:

STATE PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

• Tropical Storm Warnings, flood warnings and rip current advisories are in effect across the state. To see the most current advisories in your county, click HERE.

EVACUATIONS

• Franklin County – A mandatory evacuation has been issued for all barrier islands (Bald Point, Alligator Point, Dog Island, St. George Island), for anyone living directly on the coastline, mobile homes and RV parks.
• Gulf County – T. H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park began evacuations on Sunday, May 27 at 8:00 a.m.
• Taylor County – Voluntary evacuations have been issued for those in coastal zones and beach communities (Keaton, Dekel, Cedar, Dark Islands), mobile homes, RV parks and low-lying areas.

 MILITARY SUPPORT

• The Florida National Guard has 5,500 guard members available for deployment if needed.

LAW ENFORCEMENT

• The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is actively monitoring the storm and assisting with weather-related missions.
• Approximately 165 FHP troopers will begin 12-hour shifts beginning Monday, May 28, 2018, at 6:00 a.m., providing 24-hour enhanced coverage in the Florida Panhandle, from the Suwannee River west to the Alabama state line. All other troops continue to have enhanced staffing and are assisting the public.
• The FHP has prepared two Quick Response Force teams comprised of 66 State Troopers to deploy with minimal notice to any area of the State of Florida that may need assistance.
• FHP is supporting the Franklin County mandatory evacuation of St. George Island.
• On May 22, at Governor Scott’s direction, The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) began to pre-position and stage its high-water vehicles and all other flood response resources so they may be rapidly deployed to assist Floridians in need in the event of any flooding.
• FWC Officers in all 67 Florida counties have been placed on a heightened alert status, in anticipation of heavy rains and flooding because of Subtropical Storm Alberto. High water vehicles and shallow draft vessels in all Florida counties have been readied for immediate deployment to affected areas. The FWC continues to monitor the storm and is ready to respond as needed.
• FDLE is coordinating with local law enforcement agencies and emergency operations centers, as well as identifying protective actions in advance of the storm.
• FDLE is staging resources ahead of the storm and making preparations for possible deployments to impacted areas.

 TRANSPORTATION & PUBLIC WORKS

• The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is actively monitoring for roadway flooding in areas already impacted by heavy rains and stands ready to respond as needed.

COMMUNICATIONS

• The Florida Department of Management Services (DMS) is actively monitoring the status of public radio towers, cell towers and central offices.
• The state is continuing to contact industry telecommunications partners for resource availability and potential deployment of mobile assets.

POWER AND UTILITIES

• The current power outage as of 3:00 p.m. is approximately 3,100 accounts, which is how utility companies measure each Florida home or business.
• The state is monitoring the power grid for sufficient power in the state.
• The state is monitoring the natural gas infrastructure for any damages that can cause a loss of service to power plants.

FUEL

• The state has contacted fuel industry partners, such as the Florida Petroleum Council, Florida Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association, to prepare for potential storm impacts.
• The state is monitoring the fuel industry and anticipating impacts and disruptions.

SHELTERS

• The state is preparing to support local sheltering operations if needed.

 PUBLIC HEALTH AND MEDICAL

• The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) and the Florida Department of Health (DOH) are standing by to assist healthcare facilities if needed.
  

• DOH has been actively reaching out to Special Needs Shelter Consultants and County Health Department Directors to with updates and preparedness information.
• The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) is closely monitoring the storm and regularly sharing information with waiver support coordinators and providers to ensure they are prepared.
• The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs (FDVA) operates six skilled nursing facilities and one assisted living facility. All state veterans’ homes are currently operational.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

• Two state parks in Franklin County (Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park and Bald Point State Park) are closed. An additional 17 state-park campgrounds are closed. Visitors can visit https://www.floridastateparks.org/content/storm-update for updates.

• The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has reached out to high-priority regulated facilities to remind them of storm preparations they should be making, and has issued two emergency final orders to ensure recovery efforts are not hampered or delayed.
• The current condition of the state’s beaches has been assessed, which will expedite post-storm assessments.
• An online tool for the public to report the location of storm debris in waterways has been deployed.
• DEP has activated and is closely monitoring water and waste water facilities to provide updates on their operational status.

WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS

• Water Management Districts are monitoring waterways and water levels, preparing staff and vehicles, and are prepared to adjust flows as necessary.
• Lake Okeechobee is currently at 13.81 feet and is being continuously monitored by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, which manages Lake Okeechobee water levels.

 BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY

• The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) has 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.
• Through VISIT FLORIDA’s partnership with Expedia, www.expedia.com/Florida has been activated to provide accommodations availability information for visitors, residents and first responders.

INSURANCE

• OIR is prepared to order property insurers to submit claims information from Subtropical Storm Alberto, if necessary.
• OIR has updated its Hurricane Season Resources webpage, which contains links to resources from the Governor, Chief Financial Officer, Attorney General, Commissioner of Agriculture, Division of Emergency Management, Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Flood Insurance Program, and contact information for Florida’s property insurers.
• In accordance with the Governor’s Executive Order, OIR has notified all health insurers, managed care organizations and other health entities of their statutory obligation to allow for early prescription refills during a state of emergency.
• The Florida Department of Financial Services’ Division of Consumer Services has resources for consumers seeking to file insurance complaints HERE.

VOLUNTEER EFFORTS

• Volunteer Florida is reaching out to partners in the Florida Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD) network, to ensure they are prepared to respond as needed.
• Florida’s Community Emergency Response Teams are on standby to assist with sheltering needs.

 CONTACTS

• The State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) contact number is 1-800-342-3557.
• The State Emergency Operations Center Media Line: 850-921-0217.
• Follow @FLSert or @FLGovScott on Twitter for live updates on Subtropical Storm Alberto.
• Visit http://www.floridadisaster.org to find information on shelters, road closures, and evacuation routes.