Ahead of Hurricane Ian's landfall in Florida, Politico's Matt Dixon says this is Ron DeSantis' first hurricane as Governor. Dixon anticipates to see how this storm "will affect Florida's already faltering property insurance market."
Additionally, Dixon says while DeSantis gave three briefings Monday, "he has not, however, put himself out into the public as much as Scott." Finally, the article points out how, even if DeSantis will steer away from politics, for the time being, his handling of this situation will affect his popularity. Dixon specifically cites DeSantis' appreciation for Biden's emergency authorization for Florida, meaning FEMA will begin aiding recovery efforts.
The claim that this is DeSantis' first hurricane, however, is false.
Rep. Alex Andrade (R-FL-2) says that DeSantis did in fact prepare for Hurricane Sally in 2020, which hit Pensacola, which Andrade says "was the most destructive hurricane to strike Pensacola in 16 years."
Fact Check: FALSE
Hurricane Sally hit Pensacola in September 2020, it was the most destructive hurricane to strike Pensacola in 16 years.
Here’s @GovRonDeSantis at a briefing, committing to keep tolls lifted after our main bridge was destroyed.
C’mon @politico https://t.co/yCBLSZftfm pic.twitter.com/lqqorbNN2g
— Alex Andrade (@RAlexAndradeFL) September 27, 2022
"Fact Check: FALSE Hurricane Sally hit Pensacola in September 2020, it was the most destructive hurricane to strike Pensacola in 16 years. Here’s @GovRonDeSantis at a briefing, committing to keep tolls lifted after our main bridge was destroyed. C’mon @politico," Andrade replied to Politico's tweet about the article.
Dixon himself mentions Sally in the article, which he says "affected the extreme western part of the Florida Panhandle but primarily struck Alabama." While it is possible that what Dixon means by Ian being DeSantis' first hurricane as Governor is that it is the first to affect Florida primarily, Rapid Response Director Christina Pushaw is not so sure.
In addition to repeating the fact that this is indeed not DeSantis' first hurricane as Governor, nor that DeSantis has not been as public during the hurricane as Rick Scott during his tenure, Pushaw suggests that Dixon's framing of the article is politicizing the issue before it makes landfall.
The premise of Matt Dixon's story is false, in addition to being distasteful.
Northwest Florida was hit by Hurricane Sally in 2020: https://t.co/OtdICVWAaA
Also, Governor DeSantis has not only held briefings at the SEOC. He had a briefing in Pinellas yesterday, Sarasota today
— Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) September 27, 2022
Pushaw mockingly apologizes to "liberal media activists who are constantly cheering for the destruction of Florida."
Florida has some of the world's best emergency management leadership and personnel. Governor DeSantis and his team are doing everything possible to ensure our state is prepared. Sorry to disappoint liberal media activists who are constantly cheering for the destruction of Florida https://t.co/ObXiqskPyw
— Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) September 27, 2022
"Florida has some of the world's best emergency management leadership and personnel. Governor DeSantis and his team are doing everything possible to ensure our state is prepared. Sorry to disappoint liberal media activists who are constantly cheering for the destruction of Florida," Pushaw tweeted.
Regardless of Dixon's intention, the fact remains the Ian is expected to hit hard, so we at the Floridian urge our readers to make final preparations.
