(The Center Square) – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday said the state has gotten only a partial approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for prestorm aid ahead of a possible major hurricane landfall.
He said state officials will resubmit their request today.
Tropical Storm Helene is predicted to make landfall in the Big Bend region as soon as Thursday night, but effects from the storm could be felt Wednesday in the Keys.
Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie said the aid approved by FEMA was limited to direct federal assistance in some counties under Category B. This is emergency protective measures such as evacuations and sheltering. The state seeks aid to local governments, some of which are dealing with multiple storms, for debris removal and all emergency protective measures.
“We know people in D.C. are not from Florida,” Guthrie said. “We have a lot of tree canopy, just look around this property, and that’s going to lead to debris problems.
“I just talked to a fiscally-strained rural county on our Gulf Coast that’s having to make decisions today because they’ve been hit by two storms and they’re saying ‘Look, we can’t afford to put our police officer out there on overtime directing traffic because we’re guaranteed that we’re going to be reimbursed for that security mission.’ These are things where the rubber meets the road.”
In 2023 in the Big Bend region, Hurricane Debby made landfall on Aug. 5 as a Category 1 storm and Hurricane Idalia as a Category 3 on Aug. 30.
Helene is expected by the National Hurricane Center to rapidly intensify over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and could bring “life-threatening storm surge” along the entire west coast of Florida and the Big Bend area. Forecasters predict the storm will make landfall as a Category 3 storm with 120 mph winds.
Other models show even greater strength.
Forecasters are predicting tropical storm force winds (35 mph to 74 mph) for most of the state due to the storm’s large wind field.
“Today is the day to finalize your preparations and put your plan into place,” DeSantis said at a briefing in Tampa, adding a warning about the intensity. “This is a very big storm and you’re going to get impacts outside storm surge flooding.
“Local counties have issued evacuation orders and I’d heed those warnings. You’ve got to hide from the wind and run from the water. It’s a big, big storm with a potential to have a lot of impacts. Get the essentials you need.”
Peak storm surge is predicted to range from 10 to 15 feet between the Ochlockonee River and Chassahowitzka, 6 to 10 feet down to the Anclote River and 5 to 8 feet in Tampa Bay.
DeSantis, speaking at the Tampa Electric Company Energy East Hillsborough facility, said the state’s utilities are ready to restore electricity for those hit by the storm. The state says there are 18,000 linemen staged to help restore power once the storm passes, with more coming from other states.
“TECO is proactive, I’ve been speaking with the major companies, the co-ops, the municipal cooperatives, it’s all hands on deck,” DeSantis said. “We want to get people back on their feet quickly. Be prepared to lose power and have a plan in place. The state is committed to marshal resources.”
