Cleaning up and helping out
TALLAHASSEE --- Days after deadly Hurricane Dorian decimated parts of the Bahamas, the slow-moving storm’s destructive winds and torrential rains continued to wreak havoc in the Carolinas.
But Florida was spared a direct hit by Dorian, prompting state officials at week’s end to shift their focus from storm preparation to recovery efforts for the Sunshine State’s damaged coastline, while offering assistance to neighboring regions that were less fortunate.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state is prepared to provide aid to South Carolina and North Carolina, which were lashed by Dorian on Friday. DeSantis also said he expects the federal government may call on the Florida National Guard to assist in the Bahamas, a request that would be honored.
As for Florida’s own recovery efforts, the governor said he has spoken to President Donald Trump and asked him to approve federal reimbursements for the state and 24 counties to help cover costs of Hurricane Dorian preparation, shelters and evacuation measures.
The reimbursements could approach $200 million, DeSantis said.
“I think if the idea that because the storm moved one way, that somehow (local governments) are going to be left holding that entire bag, that sends the wrong message to folks, well, maybe skim on that next time,” the governor said.
The state will also have to deal with early projections of Florida suffering “tens of millions of dollars” in beachfront damages, he said.
“A lot of beach damage. We obviously are still going to be getting some information on that,” the governor said.
DeSantis, whose schedule Friday included an aerial tour of the Bahamas with the U.S. Coast Guard, advised people who have travel plans to the tourist-dependent Bahamas to check with their destinations because Dorian didn’t fully devastate all of the 700-plus islands and cays.
“They have many islands in the Bahamas. Some were decimated, others were not,” DeSantis said. “Canceling those plans doesn’t help them with their recovery.”
From The News Service of Florida
