Hurricane Idalia: Army Of First Responders Stands By To Help Residents

FLORIDA — With Idalia now a Category 1 hurricane and slated to strike the Big Bend area of Florida as a major Category 3 hurricane, Gov. Ron DeSantis said during a hurricane briefing that first responders, utility companies and social service providers are mobilized and ready to aid residents after the storm.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has granted DeSantis' pre-landfall emergency declaration for Hurricane Idalia. Additionally, the Florida Emergency Operations Center has activated to Level One in anticipation of potential impacts from the storm.

Idalia is predicted to become a major hurricane before it makes landfall early Wednesday. Life-threatening storm surge and dangerous winds are becoming increasingly likely for portions of Florida’s Gulf Coast, especially overnight Tuesday into Wednesday afternoon, said DeSantis.

• Related: Hurricane Idalia: Timeline To Major Hurricane Status, Path Shifts

As such:

• A storm surge watch is in effect along the Gulf Coast from the Charlotte/Sarasota County border to the Collier/Monroe County border.
• A storm surge warning is in effect along the Gulf Coast from the Charlotte/Sarasota County border to the Franklin/Gulf County border, including Tampa Bay.
• A tropical storm watch is in effect for Brevard, Clay, inland Collier, Duval, Flagler, East Marion, Nassau, Putnam, Seminole, St. Johns and Volusia counties, as well as the Lower Keys.
• A tropical storm warning is in effect for Charlotte, coastal Collier, DeSoto, inland Franklin, Gulf, Hardee, Lake, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Sarasota, Seminole and inland Wakulla counties, as well as the Dry Tortugas.
• A hurricane watch is in effect for eastern Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Hamilton, Leon, central Marion, Sarasota, Union and inland Wakulla counties.
• A hurricane warning is in effect for western Alachua, Citrus, Dixie, coastal Franklin, Gilchrist, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Manatee, western Marion, Pasco, Pinellas, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor and coastal Wakulla counties.
• DeSantis urges Floridians to monitor weather conditions and listen to all orders from local officials, as well as have emergency contact lists updated and important documents backed up and stored in a waterproof protective container.

First Responders On Standby

• The Florida Department of Emergency Management is leading the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) for the Hurricane Idalia response.
• FDEM is mobilizing requested resources to support residents and first responders in the path of the storm, including more than 25 pallets of Meals Ready to Eat (MREs), more than 180 pallets of bottled water and more than 10 pallets of tarps.
• The Florida National Guard has been fully activated with a mobilization of 2,500 guardsmen within the next 24 to 48 hours for preparedness and response efforts. An additional 3,000 guardsmen are being activated Tuesday.
• The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has activated the State Emergency Operations Center Team to support ongoing operations.

FDLE has prepared:

• One mobile command vehicle
• One operations command center
• Six mobile staging units
• 80 agents and analysts ready to deploy
• Three large trailers
• Four box trailers
• Two cargo trucks
• One forklift
• 24 generators
• 20 chainsaws

• The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has readied high-water vehicles and all other storm response resources statewide so it can rapidly deploy to assist Floridians in need in the event of damage or flooding. Contingency plans based on forecasted landfall locations have been developed and are flexible based on the storm’s projected path.

FWC officers will respond with a variety of specialized equipment as necessary, including:

• Shallow draft boats;
• Larger platform vessels
• ATVs
• Airboats
• Four-wheel drive vehicles

These assets are in addition to local FWC officers deployed to potentially affected areas.

• The FWC Special Operations Group (SOG) teams will serve as reconnaissance units for the Florida EOC and report back on damage after the storm has made landfall.
• The FWC Aviation Section has been placed on standby and has readied all appropriate aircraft for potential deployment for EOC aerial assistance, reconnaissance and post-storm damage assessments when needed.
• The Florida Highway Patrol has 300 troopers ready to deploy and is prepared to implement 12-hour Alpha, Bravo shifts in preparation for Hurricane Idalia.
• The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has completed pre-storm beach surveys in all shoreline counties.
• All significant hazardous waste facilities in potentially affected counties are being contacted to ensure all pre-storm preparations are being made.
• All Florida Department of Corrections Correctional Institutions have back-up power generators in the event commercial power is lost.

Health And Human Services

• The Florida Department of Children and Families has submitted the federal waiver request for early release of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. This will expedite the receipt of benefits for those scheduled to receive food assistance during the first half of the month in September.
• DCF’s Mass Care Unit is working with the American Red Cross and feeding partners to assess shelter needs and get updated inventory information for food on hand for distribution.
• DCF is assessing the need for the crisis counseling program and deployment of crisis counseling teams.
• The Department of Business and Professional Regulation Division of Drugs, Devices and Cosmetics stands is ready to coordinate with wholesale distributors of prescription drugs and medical gas to ensure an uninterrupted supply for potential impacted residents.
• The Florida Department of Health has distributed a statewide reminder regarding special needs shelter registration.
• DOH has staged 33 strike teams, totaling 200 ambulances, for any facility evacuations or patient transport needs. Staging is currently in Marianna and Lakeland. An additional 200 ambulances have been requested.
• DOH is working with local emergency management to prepare special needs shelter staffing.
• The DOH and Office of Insurance Regulation sent information regarding early prescription refills permitted under Executive Order 23-171. This information was sent to the public, health insurers, managed care organizations, pharmacy benefit managers, pharmacy chains and health care providers.
• DOH has contacted Medical Foster Care families to enact emergency plans, prepare supplies and fill any prescriptions. DOH staff will remain in contact with MFC families to ensure services and needs are met.
• The Agency for Health Care Administration has finalized a report using newly developed GIS software that includes information from residential providers and hospitals in counties under the state of emergency.
• AHCA partnered with Florida Health Care Association and the Florida Hospital Association to initiate statewide calls with long-term care facilities and hospitals.
• 100 percent of operating long-term care facilities have a generator onsite. The Generator Status Map for long-term care facilities is available here.
• AHCA has contacted the Medicaid Managed Care Plans to ensure they are taking the necessary preparations for the storm, including allowing for early prescription refills. Fee-for-service recipients are also eligible for early refills.
• The Agency for Persons with Disabilities, based on the Governor’s Executive Order, has mapped out the locations and current census of APD clients and residents located in potentially affected areas.
• WaterTracker is active, DEP’s online portal for drinking and wastewater facilities to report their operational status.

State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo signed Emergency Order 23-001, which:

• Waives competitive procurement requirements in order to procure commodities, goods and services expeditiously in response to the emergency.
• Permits emergency medical transportation services to operate across county lines.
• Permits paramedics and EMT’s licensed in other U.S. states, territories or districts to practice in Florida in response to the emergency without penalty.

Infrastructure, Roads And State Closures

• The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services continues to complete assessments of the fuel supplies as locations reported by Citgo to determine the severity of contaminated fuel within on-site tanks. Based on these assessments, FDACS will determine the types of fuel that is contaminated and issue subsequent communications.
• FDACS has opened up the consumer hotline to receive complaints from impacted consumers. If you believe you were sold contaminated gasoline, you can file a complaint by calling 1-800-HELP-FLA or visiting fdacs.gov.
• Florida Department of Transportation has 525 team members readying over 211 pieces of equipment and vehicles in case of the need for pre-staging and immediate deployment.
• The Howard Frankland Bridge project in Tampa is completing the process of securing barges in the area. All other active construction projects are on alert and are taking any necessary actions related to storm preparations such as securing work sites including barges and marine equipment, lowering high mast arm lighting, clearing traffic control devices that are not actively being used to direct traffic and checking drainage systems.
• Port Panama City, Port Tampa Bay, Seaport Manatee, Port St. Joe and Port of St. Petersburg have begun securing port infrastructure and clearing waterways as they prepare for the approaching storm.
• FDOT has postponed previously scheduled maintenance activities on Jacksonville’s Main Street Bridge and the St. Augustine Bridge of Lions.
• FDOT crews are actively sweeping roadway shoulders, preparing signage and opening the maximum number of lanes possible within construction zones in preparation for the potential implementation of Emergency Shoulder Use for evacuations.
• FDOT is in close communication with transportation partners across the state, including airports, seaports, rail lines and transit agencies, for necessary preparations.
• Florida’s 511 Traveler Information System is available for drivers to stay informed about roadway conditions during emergencies. This service is monitored and updated 24/7 by FDOT and includes traffic conditions, road and bridge closures, and other specialized alerts. To use Florida’s 511, visit the website at FL511.com or download the app—on both Apple and Android devices.
• FDOT is monitoring traffic levels along I-10, I-75 and I-4 to ensure safe flow of traffic as the storm’s predicted path becomes clearer.
• FDOT is working with utility providers to allow staging of utility trucks at weigh stations across the state as well as coordinate post-storm debris operations in support of swift electrical power restoration.
• Movable bridge lockdowns are being coordinated with the U.S. Coast Guard.
• FDOT is activating district emergency and pre-event contracts for post-storm operations including debris removal, traffic signal and lighting repairs and generators.
• Tampa International Airport closed at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday and St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport will close at 3 p.m. on Tuesday.
• FDOT previously issued an Emergency Order to temporarily allow expanded weight and size requirements for vehicles transporting emergency equipment, services and supplies.
• Additionally, FDOT has 525 crew members and 210 pieces of equipment ready to deploy following the storm to ensure roadways are safe.

Seaports

• Port Panama City, Port St. Joe, Port Fernandina, JAXPORT, Port Canaveral and Port Key West are actively preparing for the approaching storm.
• Port Tampa Bay, Port of St. Petersburg and Seaport Manatee landside operations remain open, however, the ports are closed to inbound vessels.

Transit and Rail

• SunRail Service will suspend service on Tuesday.
• Hillsborough Area Regional Transit will suspend service if sustained winds reach 35 mph.
• Florida’s four regional railroads (Florida Northern, Florida Midland, Florida Central and Port Manatee Railroads) will suspend operations Tuesday afternoon.
• Hillsborough Area Regional Transit will begin emergency service on Tuesday. HART will offer free service on limited or reduced service routes.
• Jacksonville Transportation Authority will suspend ferry operations on Tuesday.

Environmental Protections

• The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has published a storm updates webpage to keep state park visitors updated of closures. Visitors with existing camping and cabin reservations at closed parks have been notified of their reservation status.
• DEP has pre-authorized 627 Disaster Debris Management Sites for the counties included in the Governor’s Executive Order to temporarily stage storm-generated debris that may result from the storm.
• DEP is coordinating with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to respond to potential fuel availability impacts following the Port of Tampa Bay fuel mixing issue.
• Florida’s water management districts’ webpages have been updated to include links for real-time tracking of water levels.
• Following the issuance of the Governor’s Executive Order, DEP has issued an Emergency Final Order waiving permitting requirements for the storage and processing of solid waste, including hurricane debris.
• DEP’s Emergency Final Order also removes barriers for expediting necessary repair, replacement and restoration of structures, equipment, surface water management systems, works and other systems that may be damaged by the storm.
• FDOT issued an Emergency Order to temporarily allow expanded weight and size requirements for vehicles transporting emergency equipment, services and supplies.
• DEP’s Emergency Final Order also removes barriers for expediting necessary repair, replacement and restoration of structures, equipment, surface water management systems, works and other systems that may be damaged by the storm.
• Following the issuance of the Governor’s Executive Order, DEP has issued an Emergency Final Order waiving permitting requirements for the storage and processing of solid waste, including hurricane debris.

Educational Facilities

The Florida Department of Education is continually updating its website with school district closures, as well as State University System and Florida College System closures.

• 32 county school districts have issued closures.
• Nine Florida State College Systems have issued closures.
• Three State University Systems have issued closures.
• One State Testing Site has issued closures.

Emergency Orders

Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has issued Emergency Order 082623, which:

• waives specific requirements for commercial motor vehicles providing emergency relief
• waives the replacement fees for driver’s license and identification credentials, vehicle registrations and titles, vessel registrations and titles, and temporary parking permits for impacted individuals.

Transportation

Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has issued Emergency Order 082623, which:

• waives specific requirements for commercial motor vehicles providing emergency relief
• waives the replacement fees for driver’s license and identification credentials, vehicle registrations and titles, vessel registrations and titles and temporary parking permits for impacted individuals
• FDOT issued an Emergency Order to temporarily allow expanded weight and size requirements for vehicles transporting emergency equipment, services, supplies and agriculture commodities and citrus.
• The governor announced that tolls would be waived beginning at 4 a.m. Tuesday along Florida’s west coast in preparation for Tropical Storm Idalia. By suspending tolls in the impacted area, Floridians and visitors can quickly and safely evacuate when directed by local officials, he said.

Homeowners Help

• The Office of Insurance Regulation issued an informational memorandum to all authorized residential property insurers to provide guidance on hurricane preparedness and response. OIR directed insurers to review all aspects of their disaster preparedness and response plans to ensure they’re in compliance with Florida law. Informational Memorandum OIR-23-05M is available here.