Government and Politics
September 12, 2022
From: Florida Governor Ron DeSantisTallahassee, FL. — On Sep 9th, on the eve of the 5-year anniversary of Hurricane Irma, Governor Ron DeSantis celebrates the resiliency of impacted communities across the state and encourages all Floridians to remain prepared as Florida enters the historical peak of hurricane season. Hurricane Irma was the strongest hurricane ever observed in the open Atlantic Ocean and the longest-lived Category 5 hurricane on record.
“Hurricanes can destroy people’s homes and businesses in an instant, which is why we’ve prioritized helping Florida’s communities rebuild stronger in the aftermath of disasters,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “On the anniversary of Hurricane Irma, I’m proud of the work that we’ve accomplished to improve the resiliency of our communities and equip them to face future storms.”
“On Sep 9th, we remember the devastating impact Hurricane Irma left on millions of Floridians statewide five years ago. Thanks to the leadership of Governor DeSantis, the Division has been able to streamline our processes and ensure that communities are quickly and efficiently receiving the funding they need to recover and rebuild,” said Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie. “We will continue to support cities and counties throughout their recovery and stand ready to respond to potential storms this hurricane season that may threaten the State of Florida.”
“Under Governor DeSantis’ strong leadership, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s Rebuild Florida program continues to support Hurricane Irma long-term recovery efforts, helping impacted communities from coast to coast rebuild and become more resilient against future storms,” said Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Secretary Dane Eagle. “Since Hurricane Irma made landfall, DEO has awarded $430 million to more than 4,100 Florida homeowners and an additional $240 million to impacted communities, and all Rebuild Florida’s Hurricane Irma programs are slated to be completed on time by August 2023.”
Hurricane Irma made landfall near Cudjoe Key, Florida, on the morning of September 10, 2017, as a powerful Category 4 storm with maximum winds of 130 mph. The center of the storm then made landfall in Marco Island as a Category 4 later that afternoon. To date, Hurricane Irma is the costliest storm to impact the State of Florida.
An estimated 6.8 million residents were ordered to evacuate during Hurricane Irma, causing significant traffic congestion and fuel shortages. Roughly 6.7 million homes and businesses across the state were left without power immediately after Hurricane Irma’s landfall, and personnel and resources from 28 states and Washington, D.C. deployed to Florida to assist in Hurricane Irma response and recovery efforts.
The State of Florida immediately requested and was granted a Major Disaster Declaration, which authorized assistance for all 67 counties under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance program and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). The Division continues to support long-term mitigation and recovery efforts for communities impacted by Hurricane Irma. Projects include:
Since 2018, the Division has distributed nearly $7.6 billion in critical disaster recovery funding to support long-term recovery efforts for communities rebuilding from recent disasters.
The 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season runs through November 30, with the historical peak of the season occurring in September. While the season has been off to a relatively quiet start, disasters can strike at any time. The Division encourages Floridians to stay prepared and take advantage of no-cost and low-cost disaster preparedness activities, including:
On Sep 9th, Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) Director Kevin Guthrie was joined in Marathon, FL by state and local officials to recognize the 5-year anniversary of Hurricane Irma.
For more safety and preparedness tips, visit FloridaDisaster.org/PlanPrepare.