State Governor Ron Desantis (FL) | Ron Desantis Official Photo
State Governor Ron Desantis (FL) | Ron Desantis Official Photo
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Governor Ron DeSantis has issued Executive Order 24-94, designating 12 counties under a state of emergency to maximize state resources and cooperative efforts in the wake of severe weather that impacted North Florida on May 10th, 2024. The Florida Division of Emergency Management is liaising with local emergency management officials as recovery operations are underway.
Florida’s utility providers are actively working to restore power to damaged accounts. More than 100 personnel from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) have worked since the storm's end and have completed clearing state roads. At Governor DeSantis' direction, FDOT assets and personnel are now assisting localities in roadway and power recovery.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) is leading the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) for this multi-hazard severe weather event. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s (FDLE) Emergency Preparedness Unit has established an incident command post in Tallahassee to assist with repairs and hazardous debris removal. FDLE’s Sworn Training Unit is working in Big Bend to help clear roads and driveways.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) has law enforcement officers throughout the impacted areas with emergency response equipment and capabilities as needed, coordinating with state and local emergency management. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) reports that all State Parks are open and operational at this time.
On the health front, all county health departments are open and operational except Leon County, according to the Florida Department of Health (DOH). DOH Office of Children Medical Services (CMS) has contacted all CMS patients ensuring their safety and well-being. The Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) has been communicating with all Area Agencies on Aging partners to address unmet needs as necessary.
The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) is conducting post-storm outreach using geographic information system (GIS) technology to outline all affected areas and determine which clients and group homes are in the areas with damage. Leon County has opened a special needs shelter located at The Florida State University School.
FDOT crews continue to perform cut-and-toss operations and work to clear debris on local roads and throughout impacted communities. FDOT Signal Assessments are ongoing with no substantial damage reported at this time. Generators are being mobilized to areas without power to temporarily restore traffic signals.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) Offices and Customer Service Center in Tallahassee are closed today due to the severe weather conditions, but online services remain available 24/7. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is providing support, traffic control, roadway clearing, and welfare checks throughout impacted areas in North Florida.
As it becomes safe to do so, investigators from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) are deploying to impacted areas to conduct damage assessments of licensed establishments by checking for structural damages and combatting unlicensed activity.
Florida Commerce has activated the Business Damage Assessment Survey to measure the impact of damage caused by the severe weather. Survey responses will allow the state to expedite recovery efforts by gathering data and assessing the needs of affected businesses.
For live updates, follow @FLSERT and @GovRonDeSantis on X, formerly known as Twitter. For more information, visit FloridaDisaster.org.
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