DeSantis to Request a Major Disaster Declaration in Response to Fort Lauderdale Flood
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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced today that he will request Major Disaster Declaration for Broward County due to the massive flooding in Fort Lauderdale last week. If granted by the White House, a Major Disaster Declaration will provide a wide range of federal assistance programs for individuals and public infrastructure damaged by the floods.
Gov. DeSantis's responded swiftly when 29 inches of rain were dumped on Fort Lauderdale in just a few short hours.
Florida Emergency Director Kevin Guthrie and his team in the flood zone in Fort Lauderdale
The Floridian has been on the ground covering the flood and the response from the beginning.
Florida Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Kevin Guthrie was joined by State & Federal Teams to make preliminary damage assessments, the first step toward making a Major Disaster Declaration. In less than three days, teams have assessed over 1,300 homes and identified over 1,000 with major damages and expect to be finished this weekend, according to the Governor's Press Office.
DeSantis has also activated the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, making $5 million available for businesses impacted by flooding in the Fort Lauderdale Area. These are interest-free loans which can be used to "bridge the gap" for people who are recovering from the flood. Florida’s small business owners in need of assistance can apply at FloridaJobs.org/EBL.
Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried criticized DeSantis at a press conference on April 18, accusing him of not caring about black neighborhoods.
"He has an obligation to be here," said Fried. "If this flood happened in Naples, if it had happened in the Villages, he would have been there himself. But because this is Broward County and because the heavily hit parts are in Black communities, he didn't show up."
Although DeSantis did not visit in person, the Floridian has documented his team has been on the ground in the most heavily affected areas from the very beginning.
“The State’s response has been robust and we are still ready to bring more assets and resources in," Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie told the Floridian. “The Governor appoints individuals to do a job and has provided me with everything I’ve asked for. He has been engaged every step of the way."
Chris Nelson
Chris Nelson is a videographer and investigative reporter based in Fort Lauderdale. Chris covers breaking news, and local and state politics, and focuses on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. His work has been cited on Fox News and Epoch Times.