With the forecasted path of Hurricane Ian anticipated to bring high water and winds to the west coast of Florida there is the potential for major storm surge in specific regions. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis held a press conference from Pinellas County to outline the latest information. WATCH:
~ Florida Disaster Website as Outlined ~
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — This morning, Governor Ron DeSantis issued updates on Hurricane Ian at the State Emergency Operations Center with Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie. Full remarks from this morning’s press conference are available here.
Hurricane Ian became a Category 1 hurricane this morning and is projected to continue strengthening into a major hurricane this week. Tropical-storm force winds may begin as soon as tonight in the Florida Keys and southern Florida. Regardless of Ian’s exact track and intensity, there is a significant risk of life-threatening storm surge, hurricane-force winds, and heavy rainfall along the west coast of Florida and the Florida Panhandle by the middle of this week.
Current Watches and Warnings in Effect:
- Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect for the Lower Keys (from the 7 Mile Bridge southward to Key West, and the Dry Tortugas).
- Tropical Storm Watches are in effect for portions of the Florida Gulf Coast stretching from Englewood to Chokoloskee (Charlotte, Collier, and Lee Counties).
- A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Englewood to the Anclote River, including Tampa Bay.
- Storm Surge Watches are in effect for the Florida Keys and mainland Monroe County, as well as far southern Miami-Dade, Collier, coastal Lee, the Tampa Bay area and coastal Charlotte counties.
- Anclote River to Longboat Key including Tampa Bay… 5-10 ft
- Longboat Key to Englewood… 5-8 ft.
- Englewood to Bonita Beach, FL… 4-7 ft
- Bonita Beach to East Cape Sable, FL… 3-5 ft
- East Cape Sable to Card Sound Bridge, FL including Florida Bay…2-4 ft
- Florida Keys including the Dry Tortugas… 2-4 ft
State preparation and response efforts include:
Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM)
- FDEM is leading the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) for the Hurricane Ian response.
- The Division has received 361 resource requests for Hurricane Ian, and has already fulfilled 293 of those requests. Additional requests are currently being processed and are either en route or being mobilized. This includes the coordination of resources such as: trucks of food and water, generators, and water pumps.
- Five Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Teams are activated, and will be prepared to deploy to impacted areas.
- FDEM has begun setting up a Logistical Staging Areas in Polk County and is identifying potential additional staging areas and points of distribution to ensure food and water are readily available if counties request it.
- FDEM has loaded 360 trailers with over 2 million meals and over one million gallons of water in preparation for distribution to impacted areas.
- FDEM is in constant communication with all 67 county emergency management offices and state agencies to coordinate protective actions and needed resources ahead of potential storm impacts.
- FDEM is coordinating with utilities to ensure crews are prepared to respond and restore power. Utility providers have more than 25,000 linemen staged and prepared for power restoration efforts.
Florida National Guard
- Following Governor DeSantis’ authorization, a total of 5,000 Florida Guardsmen are being activated to State Active Duty and pre-positioned at armories across the state for Tropical Storm Ian response operations. Two thousand Guardsmen from Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina are also being activated to assist.
- The Florida National Guard is currently supporting missions including staffing and supporting the State Logistics Response Center (SLRC) in Orlando.
- In addition, the Florida Guard has mobilized and is on standby with five Route Clearance Teams and Aviation assets.
- The Florida National Guard is well-equipped, with assets including high-wheeled vehicles, helicopters, boats, generators and more.
Florida Department of Health (DOH)
- DOH continues to coordinate across 67 county health departments on any necessary preparation resources, in coordination with county emergency managers.
- The Department has coordinated with the Office of Insurance Regulation to distribute an alert regarding permitted early prescription refills during a State of Emergency. This alert was sent to health insurers, managed care organizations, health entities, and licensed health care providers. The alert can be found here.
- The Department is supporting Special Needs Shelter operations in areas of anticipated landfall.
- Nearly 300 ambulances, paratransit busses, and support vehicles are being deployed in areas of anticipated landfall.
- The Department has coordinated with Federal partners to support the deployment of nearly 100 individuals through various health and medical teams. These teams stand ready in Orlando, Atlanta, and Warner Robbins Air Force Base in Georgia.
Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA)
- AHCA is requiring health providers to update the Health Facility Reporting System by 10 AM daily to ensure each facility is taking the appropriate precautions to ensure patient safety.
- AHCA has completed 124 onsite visits in Nursing Homes and ALFs that were previously identified as out of compliance with generator requirements. As of today, 100% of operating long-term care facilities have a generator on-site. The Generator Status Map for long-term care facilities is available here.
- AHCA has reminded all Medicaid Managed Care Plans of the requirement to allow 30-day emergency prescription refills of maintenance medication.
Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD)
- APD sent a statewide message to remind customers to register for the Special Needs Registry if needed.
Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF)
- DCF submitted a request for a federal waiver to release SNAP benefits early in preparation for Hurricane Ian.
- DCF has been working with contracted partners, including, Managing Entities, Community Based Care lead agencies, and child care providers to ensure Florida’s communities remain apprised of all storm updates and are making preparations for potential impacts.
- DCF is also ensuring all Mental Health Treatment Facilities and methadone treatment programs are prepared for the storm.
Florida Department of Veterans Affairs (FDVA)
- The Bay Pines VA Healthcare System will close the following locations for in person and procedure appointments:
- C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center: Monday, Sept. 26 through Thursday, Sept. 29. This closure extends to the Emergency Department.
- North Pinellas and St. Petersburg VA Clinics: Wednesday, Sept. 28 and Thursday, Sept. 29.
- Sarasota, Bradenton, and Port Charlotte VA Clinics: Wednesday, Sept. 28.
Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)
- To help Florida families safely and quickly evacuate in preparation of Hurricane Ian, tolls are now being suspended on many facilities in the projected areas of impact. Tolls will be suspended as of 12:00 PM today for the following:
- Polk Parkway in Polk County
- Suncoast Parkway in Pasco, Hernando, Hillsborough, and Citrus counties
- Veterans Expressway in Hillsborough County
- I-4 Connector in Hillsborough County
- Selmon Expressway in Hillsborough County
- Pinellas Bayway in Pinellas County
- Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Pinellas County
- Garcon Point Bridge in Santa Rosa County
- Spence Parkway in Okaloosa County
- Mid-Bay Bridge in Okaloosa County
- Alligator Alley in Collier and Broward Counties
- FDOT contractors on all active construction projects are securing work sites, clearing traffic control devices that are not actively being used to direct traffic, and checking drainage systems.
- Additional Road Rangers have been deployed to assist motorists along critical roadways.
- The SunRail corridor is being secured to prepare for the storm. SunRail services will be discontinued effective Tuesday at 8:30am and will tentatively resume on Friday morning.
- Florida’s 511 Traveler Information System is available for drivers to stay informed about roadway conditions during emergencies. The service includes traffic conditions, road and bridge closures, toll suspensions, 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.
- On Saturday, September 24, FDOT waived standard weight restrictions for commercial vehicles transporting fuel, emergency equipment, services, supplies, and agriculture commodities and citrus. Commercial vehicles now will have an increased weight restriction to transport goods.
- FDOT is monitoring traffic levels along critical corridors to ensure safe flow of traffic as the storm’s predicted path becomes clearer.
- FDOT is staging resources to perform road and bridge inspections after the storm.
- FDOT is procuring and staging resources to perform cut-and-toss operations to expedite roadway openings after the storm.
- FDOT is activating district emergency and pre-event contracts for post-storm operations including debris removal, traffic signal and lighting repairs, and generators.
- FDOT is coordinating with the Florida Highway Patrol, other law enforcement agencies, and Georgia DOT partners in support of potential evacuations, as well as with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection regarding debris management sites.
- FDOT is working with utility providers to coordinate post-storm debris operations in support of electrical power restoration.
- FDOT is coordinating with U.S. Coast Guard on movable bridge lockdowns.
Florida Department of Highway Safety
and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV)
- The Florida Highway Patrol is prepared to implement 12-hour Alpha, Bravo shifts in response to Hurricane Ian.
- FLHSMV has issued Emergency Order 092422, which:
- Waives specific requirements for commercial motor vehicles providing emergency relief; and
- 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.
Florida Wildlife Commission (FWC)
- On September 23, at Governor DeSantis’ direction, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) readied high-water vehicles and all other storm response resources so they may be rapidly deployed to assist Floridians in need in the event of any damage or flooding.
- FWC officers in all 67 Florida counties have been placed on heightened alert status, in anticipation of heavy rains and flooding because of Hurricane Ian. High-water vehicles and shallow draft vessels in all Florida counties have been readied for immediate deployment to affected areas. Contingency plans based on forecasted landfall locations have been developed and are flexible based on the storm’s projected path.
- Officers will respond with a variety of specialized equipment, including shallow draft boats, larger platform vessels, ATVs, airboats, and four-wheel drive vehicles. These assets do not include local FWC officers in potentially affected areas.
- FWC Special Operations Group (SOG) teams will serve as reconnaissance units for the State EOC and report back on damage after the storm has made landfall.
- 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.
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO)
- DEO has activated the private sector hotline at 850-815-4925 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Inquiries may also be emailed to [email protected].
- Partners including Walmart and Publix have indicated that they are constantly bringing additional supplies into the state to restock inventory.
- DEO is updating www.FloridaDisaster.biz with real-time information for business owners to prepare their businesses, families, and employees for Hurricane Ian
Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
- Following the issuance of the Governor’s Executive Order, DEP issued an Emergency Final Order waiving permitting requirements for the storage and processing of solid waste, including storm debris.
- DEP has also issued an Emergency Final Order to expedite necessary repair, replacement and restoration of structures, equipment, surface water management systems, works and other systems damaged by the storm.
- Inspectors completed pre-storm beach surveys in all shoreline counties.
- Hazardous Area Response Teams (HARTs) are preparing for potential assessment and deployment to impacted areas.
- All significant Hazardous Waste facilities within the affected counties have been contacted to ensure all pre-storm landfall preparations are being made.
- Florida state park closures can be found at www.floridastateparks.org/StormUpdates.
- Visitors with existing camping and cabin reservations at impacted parks will be notified of their reservation status.
- WaterTracker is active, DEP’s online portal for wastewater and drinking water facilities to report their operational status.
Florida Department of Education (DOE)
The Florida Department of Education is consistently updating their website with county school closures, for a list visit fldoe.org/storminfo.
K12 School Closures
- Hernando County Schools will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
- Hillsborough County Schools will be closed Monday, September 26 through Thursday, September 29, 2022.
- Lake County Schools will have early dismissal on Tuesday, September 27 and will be closed Wednesday, September 28 and Thursday, September 29, 2022.
- Pasco County Schools will be closed Tuesday, September 27 and Wednesday, September 28, 2022.
- Pinellas County Schools will be closed Tuesday, September 27 and Wednesday, September 28, 2022.
- Sarasota County Schools will be closed beginning Tuesday, September 27.
Florida College System Closures
- Hillsborough Community College will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Thursday, September 29, 2022.
- St. Petersburg College will be closed Tuesday, September 27 and Wednesday, September 28, 2022.
- State College of Florida will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
State University Closures
- New College of Florida classes will be canceled Monday, September 26 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
- University of South Florida classes will be canceled Monday, September 26 through Thursday, September 29, 2022. Campuses will be closed starting Tuesday, September 27, 2022.
Florida Department of Management Services (DMS)
- State buildings in Hillsborough County will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, September 27, 2022. An updated list of state building closures is available here.
- The Telecommunications Division is working with telecom partners to ensure that the state’s communications networks have redundancies and remain operations for first responders to respond to Floridians during the storm.
I guarantee you every establishment media outlet has already had meetings on ways they might be able to smear Desantis over this Hurricane.
No doubt about that.
I live in FL half the year. You would be impressed with the preparation and organization state wide for these storms. I arrived about a month after a direct hit on Ft. Myers and the only places you could tell there was a storm was in the overgrown woods areas where there were blown over trees and plants. They eventually got to them. All the debris is piled up in central locations. Later big shredders come in and double shred it for mulch. It’s then purchased by mulch companies that have to heat treat it and let it sit for a year before it can be used. The state is experienced and know what to do. It’s the new residents they are worried about.
wvgal here looking to transition to Florida soon for half year living. Looking more towards the Dothan Alabama area or south of there
Sir, my buddy runs a company that takes tree debris from the largest tree companies in the State and shreds it to be burned in order to spin turbines that generate electricity year round.. I have never seen anything like it.
They’re going to do exactly the opposite. Just watch.
I agree. They are trying to promote DeSantis as part of the Trump take-down plan.
The headlines have already been written: “Gender fluid individuals and people of color hit hardest”; “White (conservative) communities get aid first, quickest”.
“White, conservative communities unexpectedly looted by FBI and newly-planted U.S. Capitol Police in Tampa, in their owners’ absence.”
Yes, I’m that cynical.
They take care of the City Dwellers first because they know who is riot prone. We Country Types are left to fend for ourselves and are always dead slap last to get our power restored.
Praying for all the states in the path.
My window of opportunity to go south has passed last night. Given if it were not for bad luck, I would have none at all…just wonderful neighbors who boarded up my homestead…cause there is another cooking out off of Africa…
Debated on going…the idea of ‘contra flow’ is what made me stay put and pray. Plus it looked and looks like FL will be cut in half…by way of potential storm damage….
Thank you and keep those updates coming! They are very much appreciated!!!
God Bless You and Godspeed!
Traffic already getting bad.
Make SURE you fill your car or truck’s gas or diesel tank Before you hit the highway, the stations along the way will quickly run out and you don’t want to run out along the way on a parking lot super highway. And,… watch out for panicked drivers who will be everywhere causing accidents or worse
There are other roads out of Florida.. I hope Governor DeSantis widens 75 in his second term.
Our guys are generally proactive, unlike the left’s.
Too bad DeSantis can’t put Hurricane Ian on a plane to Martha’s Vineyard.
New England has been hit before by major hurricanes. It is uncommon, and the early warnings due to todays technologies have vastly reduced the more lethal threat of surprise, such as happened in 1938. Sandy in 2012 caused a lot of downed trees ad power outages, but nothing like the whopper of ’38.
The Great New England Hurricane of 1938 hit Eastern Long Island as a category 3 hurricane. Take notice under the “Massachusetts” sub heading that the Blue Hill Observatory in Milton, MA, recorded sustained winds of 121 mph with a recorded gust of 186 mph. This storm actually entered Vermont, still a Category 1 hurricane.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1938_New_England_hurricane
I had distant relatives – a great aunt’s family – up in New Bedford MA. who lived through the 1938 “Long Island Express” as it came to be known. My father once told me about the devastation they endured and from which they and their community had to rebuild. It was a very severe traumatic experience for them.
Would a Stop-Over in WDC be too much to hope for?
Seriously? Have you ever been through one of these storms? I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.
God help the people of Florida and anyone else in the path of this storm.
This is exactly the type of thing DeSantis needs to be focusing on. Knocking the hurricane response out of the park.
I wonder if deep state elements in Florida would actively sabotage the relief efforts??
Absolutely. I believe that’s what happened in Puerto Rico under Trump.
The GFS computer models have been showing west tracks into Gulf for a week. Today they moved with the Euro models more to the East. Historically late Sept early Oct storms move across the state West to east from a line between Naples and Tampa across to East coast Ft.Pierce to Melbourne line. Polk county the organizing center is in that corridor.
They had a lousy governor, as I remember, seems they found cases & cases of never distributed food & water, but Trump always gets the blame, huh?
Absolutely. I believe what happened to Trump in Puerto Rico was sabotage masked by incompetence. And then blame Trump for incompetence.
Every single person in the PR government…
and Katrina under Bush
Was in the NJANG for Katrina. We moved planeload after planeload of donated bottled water to NOLA. It’s my understanding that almost none of it was used. Just sat in the sun. Crazy how many resources went toward that effort, all for nothing.
Why does every hurricane to brush Puerto Rico cost at least $10 Billion in damages? Asking for a friend.
Goodness no, I’m sure they’re falling over themselves to help.
Jean-Pierre Defends Biden’s Lack Of Communication With DeSantis Amid Potential Hurricane Disasters
That’s a good thing! Brandon’s Com would just be a distraction!
Affirmative Action Figure.
Sorry. She reminds of those troll dolls years ago.
Yeah, the Mop Top gives me the same vibes too
No, cause deep state elements WANT DeSantis to win, to continue on his path as a “splitter” candidate in 2024, to compete against PDJT.
The deep state won’t do anything but help his campaign, just as you won’t see Liz coming down to campaign for Crist, like she will be helping Hobbs in Az.
What if that stoner had gotten elected…Would he have been able to get this response going? Remember that guy in NOLA and Katrina? Delayed evacuations? Failed levees?
They will do anything to enhance or preserve their ideology. Look at Covid…they don’t care about people.
Voters have short memories. Leftists, have shorter memories….
Gillum would have worked the hustle with his cronies, just as Nagin and Landrieu did with NOLA. Guaranteed.
Trump is right, DeSantis really does have a kind of whiny, gay sounding voice. Just not an inspiring guy. Nice guy though
This is a really whiney comment. You do understand how shallow of a person this signals you as I presume? It is up there with the orange man bad schtick.
If you have something you want to share here, people here are understanding. There will be brave and loving gay men and women pitching in to help just as straight folks will.
I knew it! That’s why I scanned the comments, to see how soon and who would take a cheep shot at Gov DeSantis. You get the prize Sir!
Hey I said he was a nice guy 🤷♂️😆
Me too. Didn’t take long did it. Dem Instigator or just anti RD, who knows.
Wrong. A Trump supporter who is sick of DeSantis pricks attacking me and Trump.
But the difference is they have to lie or rewrite history to do so. Whereas I am plainly stating the obvious: Ron sounds like a gay elementary school teacher.
If you say so.
Totally inappropriate comment for this thread.
There’s a time and a place. This isn’t it.
Go to the Daily Thread with this one….just stay MAGA.
MAGA 4 life! ❤️🇺🇸👍
Great report Sundance,…. especially for the new transplants to FL.
Tampa Bay is no where to be if Ida’s storm surge hits there. It is shallow, so the waves will be enormous, and will flood far inland.
If you live on a barrier Island, on the coast or near it,… if Ida is predicted to hit Tampa or just North of it, Get Out Now!, while you still can with moderate ease. Tampa will be on the dirty Strong side of Ida.
Prayers for my Niece, a tall, beautiful blue-eyed blond who is a Sheriff’s Deputy now on duty for the duration at her Precinct in Tampa.
Best of Luck to all in FL now, and thank the Lord you have a capable, concerned and efficient Governor DeSantis, you are going to need him and his assistance, soon enough.
Prayers for all the law enforcement, emergency response teams and the citizens emergency response team that are duty for the duration. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
🙏 🙏 !!!!!!!
Sounds like FEMA can stay home
Nah, they start preps to get propositioned in some office somewhere I think. My understanding is that FEMA basically ‘writes checks’…I know they do more but….
Our stores have been wiped out. No water, or food anywhere! Its going to be interesting to see how long it takes to refill the shelves
Looking at the maps and how it seems FL will be sort of cut in half, yet the responses listed above, I don’t think it will take a long time.
This will be RDS moment to shine for Florida.
And not be the splitter candidate Dutchman mentioned.
Was at a smaller Publix today 1 ish very well stocked other than bread and you could only get 2 water if you needed.
Please, RD is not very welcome here especially when he’s doing his job efficiently. He is the current bad guy for many of the conservatives on site, having sold out to the establishment apparently. But, he is getting his state ready for a big weather emergency.
He is activating a very good plan to keep FL residents safe as he can especially all the newbies who haven’t been through a hurricane before. Stay safe FL. Listen and be responsible for getting prepared and/or evacuating if need be. Hurricanes are nothing to take lightly.
This thread is not about politics or turf wars, it is about an emergency, dangerous situation, can’t we just let it go for ONCE??
Look above. I didn’t start it and I was talking about the hurricane prep and how well it is being handled.
Sundance, if you are impacted by this storm, you and all impacted by it are in my prayers.
Our nation is under judgement for the things we know and do not know that are happening.
May God have mercy on us.
Screen shot all the data and predictions you see and compare them day after day and see how accurate these predictors are.
This site has real time satellite imagery and is constantly changing.
https://www.tropicaltidbits.com/
Spent so much of my childhood in Citrus County down to Manatee, watching this forecast is making me want to cry. So many prayers to the people in the path. My family is evacuating and some in Tampa may not have homes to return to. They were already slammed by inflation, now they’re potentially losing their homes.
Going to be a rough weekend.
Edit: I will say, as a positive, that on the highway in my SC area today, there was a small army of linemen heading south. Help is already on the way.
I’ve been following the Big Cat Rescue site at explore.org as they continue to put out short videos of their preparation before the storm hits; they are in the Tampa area, have tigers, panthers, and other exotic cats (this is the one run by the lady at the heart of the Tiger King controversy).
I never watched Tiger King.
That is a very overwhelmingly thorough list of responses. And very impressive. For his response and corresponding agencies, I will give him a pass for now on how I feel about other issues.
This is what a governor should be doing.
It is unfortunate that it is “necessary” to remind “managed care” to dispense the necessary maintenance medications…or even having to speak to nursing homes and generator issues. The fact that this has to be done, is very telling.
God Bless Florida!
For Sundance, family, our Floridian friends and all Floridians, we send our prayers from NY!
🙏 🙏 🙏 !!!!!
Early this morn my sister who lives in the Tampa suburbs in Hillsborough county sent me a text with a picture ” WAITING ON A HURRICANE IS LIKE BEING STALKED BY A TURTLE.” Somehow or other my other sister who also lives there has managed to be at another location on the Planet every time a hurricane hits. Its almost uncanny. But they know and have both experienced many more hurricanes in FL than Irma.
This is the first hurricane Florida has to prepare (I think) since Hurricane Irma. Seems like Gov DeSantis is up to the task., despite what plans he has for his political future.
And can you only imagine if Biden were Guv of Florida right now? Imagine DeSantis saying “this really isn’t happening right now. I need to go take a nap, or go to an undisclosed location for more time off from “acting” like a Governor?”
I cannot either.
On a lighter note, rose early this morning and watched The Weather Channel for updates. There was a recurring story with some FL official that FL was not prepared with sufficient public infrastructure to service EV recharging. You gotta be ….ing me!
Thank you for reminding me of The Weather Channel. FAKE NEWS. Just from what my family in Florida has experienced that is THE LAST CHANNEL they go to for “weather news.” Actors all. Obviously from you wrote wrote with an agenda to grind.
As if anyone gives a sh*t about EV recharging at a time like this. Uh and duh. So STOOPID . TONE DEAF TO THE REALITY AND EXPERIENCE OF REAL HUMANS who are FRIGHTENED RIGHT NOW. STOOPID!
Clarification @phillp jeffreys – TWC has an axe to grind. Not you. Sorry about that sentence.
Thank you!! Excellent article!!
I have lived on the west coast of Florida for almost 30 years. I have been through many a hurricane. As long as one takes basic precautions.. its really not a big deal. Of course I dont live in a flood zone..I aint that stupid.
Not that I want any part of Florida to be hit by a powerful hurricane, I am glad that it’s not going to hit Mar-a-Lago because Trump has been through enough already this year. 🙁