Florida is getting ahead of the storm. Gov. Ron DeSantis said search-and-rescue teams, utility crews, and transportation workers are already staged across the state, along with high-water vehicles, small rescue vessels, and fuel. About 16,000 lineworkers are ready to respond once conditions allow.
The governor laid out a clear priority order for after the storm passes: search and rescue first, then power restoration, then Florida Department of Transportation crews clearing roads and debris. He noted waterborne rescues could be needed in the interior part of northwest Florida, where flooding can make roads impassable. On power, he cautioned that restoration speed depends on damage type. Downed lines can often be repaired faster than damaged substations. The state can also set up fuel distribution and food and water points of distribution if needed.
For Suncoast residents, the message is straightforward: finish your storm preparations now. The state’s approach, in the governor’s words, is to be overprepared. That’s a good standard for the rest of us too. What’s the last thing on your storm checklist that still needs doing?
