On Wednesday, Governor Ron DeSantis detailed Florida’s emergency response plan for Hurricane Ian. Over 10,000 first responders are on standby. Some 42,000 linemen are also on standby to restore power to the 1.7 million people who have currently lost power. 911 call centers are down in Lee, Hendry and Glade counties and those calls are being rerouted to nearby counties. DeSantis urges people to stay safe indoors even if it is clear because many hurricane deaths happen after the storm, due to hurricane hazards.
Read More »More than 1.8 million Florida utility customers without power
Earlier in the day, Gov. Ron DeSantis had called an initial 200,000 outages a "drop in the bucket" compared to total number of Floridians who will be affected by power outages by the time the storm passes.
Read More »The Point, Sept. 27, 2022: Florida Gulf Coast, inland areas brace for impending arrival of Hurricane Ian
The storm could bring devastation to areas from Tampa Bay to the Big Bend.
Read More »A Gainesville community tethered by frustration stands resilient against repeated flooding
Pamela O’Steen, a 62-year-old resident of the Hills of Santa Fe neighborhood in northwest Gainesville, has seen her house flood seven times since she moved there in 2000. “Every time it rains, I pray,” O’Steen said. Residents like O’Steen say they feel helpless and forgotten as they continue to suffer …
Read More »Hour-by-hour updates: Florida begins recovery after Hurricane Ian
This is a live event and this page will be updated as necessary as Hurricane Ian impacts Florida. You can also sign up to receive local updates through Alert Florida.
Read More »The Point, Sept. 12, 2022: The looming impact between sea level rise and Florida’s property tax base
A new analysis shows Florida will be the most affected state nationwide when it comes to property tax loss and sea level rise.
Read More »Assessing Hurricane Irma’s impact, five years later
This week marks five years since Hurricane Irma hit Florida. Nearly the entire peninsula was under a hurricane watch or warning by the time the storm reached Florida’s southwestern shore.
Read More »Hurricane preparedness is expensive. Emergency managers and community leaders are looking for a solution.
The national survey from the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) found that Americans are looking for ways to prepare on a reduced budget.
Read More »Planning commission recommends approval of Meadowbrook Golf Course driving range, despite neighbors’ objections
Course owner Chris Marcum says a Topgolf-style range that could stay open regardless of flooding events is the only way Meadowbrook can be profitable.
Read More »Watershed: High Hazard: State report shows risks of the aging Rodman Dam
A 261-page Florida Department of Environmental Protection dam safety report released in March has given the decades-long battle a renewed sense of urgency. What was once a low-hazard structure with no potential for death or flooding has changed as it’s aged.
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