DeSantis’ Hurricane Letter

As governor, protecting the great State of Florida and its citizens is my number one priority. This past year, we saw the devastating impacts of two major hurricanes that directly hit our state. In the months since landfall, we have seen communities band together and show great strength and resilience through the ongoing recovery. After the cameras left and the dust settled, Florida has continued to cut through bureaucracy and find ways to support impacted Floridians. Even as we continue this process, I want to encourage all Floridians to begin preparations for the upcoming 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

Since I took office in 2019, Florida has been impacted by several tropical cyclones and hurricanes, including Hurricanes Ian and Nicole in 2022. Before landfall, my administration and the Florida Division of Emergency Management worked around the clock to initiate the fastest disaster response on record, with search and rescue operations beginning just hours after landfall. We also cut through red tape to initiate a swift recovery and restore the homes and businesses in impacted areas. Thanks to the hard work of the Florida Department of Transportation, we were able to repair the Pine Island Bridge in just three days and the Sanibel Causeway in just 15 days. The Florida Division of Emergency Management deployed food and water to support the needs of survivors in the immediate aftermath of the storm, including over 4 million hot meals, over 15 million Meals Ready to Eat (MREs), over 500,000 food boxes, and over 2 million cleanup/hygiene kits. According to the FEMA Region IV Response Division, this is more food and water delivered to impacted citizens in the aftermath of a disaster than any other state in the southeast since 2017. This effort would not have been possible without the generosity of many fellow Floridians and friends from out-of-state who contributed to the Florida Disaster Fund, an initiative launched by First Lady Casey DeSantis that has since raised over $60 million to help impacted Floridians recover and rebuild. These highlights are just a few ways we have responded to our recent hurricanes, and I am happy that Florida’s road to recovery has succeeded.

As we enter the 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season, I urge all Floridians to reflect on the severe impacts of Hurricanes Ian and Nicole and take the time now to prepare for the 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Our state is hard at work preparing our staff and ensuring resources are in place so we can respond quickly in any natural disaster, just as we did this year. My office, the Florida Division of Emergency Management, other state agencies, and our private-sector partners work year-round to ensure residents and communities statewide are equipped with the tools they need during a disaster.

The first step towards hurricane preparedness is planning for you and your family. Take the time to learn if you live in an evacuation zone and your home’s ability to withstand hurricane-force winds. Your family plan should include a potential evacuation route, a plan for shelter, and a family communication plan. Remember to include any household pets in these plans as well. If a storm threatens your area, you should secure your residence and any outdoor belongings to reduce damages. Building a disaster supply kit that includes food and water for at least seven days, medications, and copies of important documents is also critical to disaster preparedness. You can find additional resources for creating your disaster plan at FloridaDisaster.org/PlanPrepare.

Additionally, if you or a family member are disabled or would require additional assistance during a disaster, I encourage you to register for Florida’s Special Needs Registry at snr.flhealthresponse.com. This registry provides first responders and local emergency managers with valuable information to help you prepare for disasters.

I hope Florida will not endure another devastating storm like Hurricane Ian this year. However, I am confident in our state’s record-breaking disaster response abilities and Floridians’ resilience. I encourage you to be prepared in advance and utilize the many resources at FloridaDisaster.org. I will do everything in my power to ensure all Floridians have the resources they need both before and after a storm to come out safe and stronger together.