Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Department of Emergency Management have gone above and beyond what is required after record rainfalls poured down on Fort Lauderdale leading to massive flooding. Absent a direct petition from Broward County, a State of Emergency has been declared and resources have been deployed to help Florida residents after 25 inches of rain were dropped on the city in a 24-hour period.
I have declared a State of Emergency for Broward County in response to severe flooding. @FLSERT has resources on the ground and is providing aid. Residents in these areas should follow all orders from local officials and stay away from floodwaters," stated Gov. DeSantis
I have declared a State of Emergency for Broward County in response to severe flooding. @FLSERT has resources on the ground and is providing aid.
Residents in these areas should follow all orders from local officials and stay away from floodwaters.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) April 13, 2023
"I am pleased Governor DeSantis was able to declare the state of emergency to get us resources," Broward County Mayor Lamar Fisher told The Floridian. Fisher said it was on the request of the Florida Department of Emergency Management that the State of Emergency was declared which among other things directs that "sufficient funds be made available" from the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund to help assist flood victims in Florida.
Fisher says he was contacted by Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis who told him that all FEMA claims can go through him. "I was contacted by both Jimmy Patronis and Rick Scott's office to offer assistance," said Fisher. Earlier today Fisher said he was contacted by Florida Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie and also received a personal call from Governor Ron DeSantis. "We were given the ok to tap into all the resources we need. This is a team effort."
DeSantis was criticized after a video went viral of Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis saying he did not receive a call from the Governor's office. "Governor DeSantis has not yet called, but I'm sure he's very interested in what's going on here," Trantalis told the Floridan in a press conference earlier today.
WATCH! I asked Fort Lauderdale Mayor @DeanTrantalis if he has spoken with Governor DeSantis after the unprecedented flooding in Fort Lauderdale. @BryanDGriffin says: “DEM is working with the localities to understand needs and provide aid.” pic.twitter.com/mJVAEYBvG1
— Chris Nelson 🇺🇸 🏝 (@ReOpenChris) April 13, 2023
In a statement to the Floridian, DeSantis Deputy Press Secretary Jeremy Redfern said, “Director Guthrie has been proactively reaching out to the city and county on behalf of the DeSantis Administration. We have yet to receive a request for assistance from Broward or Ft. Lauderdale, but the state is still sending resources to assist Floridians.”
Calls to Guthrie, Broward Commissioner Michael Udine, and Broward Mayor Lamar Fisher are listed on DeSantis's schedule for today. DeSantis issued Executive Order 23-65 earlier today stating:
- FDEM has deployed staff to support local efforts including collecting damage assessment data in Broward County.
- FDEM Director has been in contact with the Broward County Emergency Management Director and the Ft. Lauderdale City Manager to offer further support and coordinate future damage assessments.
Fort Lauderdale City Manager Greg Chavarria told the Floridian Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie had contacted him in the morning. "This morning Director Guthrie reached out to me and gave me all the details he needed to share. We are going through the county's web EOC program so they can funnel that up to the State so we can receive those resources in a timely manner," said Chavarria.
