Gov. Scott Issues Updates on State Action to Assist Puerto Rico

NAPLES, Fla. – On Thursday, Governor Rick Scott directed the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) to activate the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) to Level 2. This means the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) has activated, enhancing coordination between federal, state and local emergency management agencies. Today’s activation is in response to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offering Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) to Puerto Rican families in Florida who were displaced by Hurricane Maria.

Last week, Governor Scott led a delegation of Florida utility providers to Puerto Rico at the invitation of Governor Ricardo Rosselló. The Governor and delegation members joined local officials at a roundtable to offer advice and assistance regarding Puerto Rico’s decisions for ongoing power restoration efforts.

See below for more information on what the State of Florida is doing to support Puerto Rico:

DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

• At the direction of Governor Scott, three Disaster Relief Centers (DRCs) have opened at Orlando International Airport, Miami International Airport, and the Port of Miami for Puerto Rican families displaced by Hurricane Maria.

• The following organizations will have staff on site: Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Children and Families, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Department of Health, Department of Economic Opportunity, American Red Cross and Catholic Charities (Orlando International Airport).
• These partners will offer services such as help with registering for FEMA Individual Assistance, crisis counseling, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) information, assistance with unaccompanied minors and agency social services, assistance with animal services, medical attention and health concerns, employment information and training services, food and water resources, language guidance and spiritual care.
• The hours of operation for these centers are 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., including weekends.

• Since October 3rd, 2017, more than 143,000 individuals have arrived in Florida from Puerto Rico through Miami International Airport, Orlando International Airport and Port Everglades.
• The Disaster Relief Centers at the Orlando International Airport, Miami International Airport, and the Port of Miami have served more than 26,000 individuals.
• FEMA is onsite providing information on available resources for people arriving from Puerto Rico.
• DEM is working with our Federal and local partners to explore and consider all available solutions with regards to housing Hurricane Maria survivors.

• The State Emergency Response Team (SERT) is working closely with Puerto Rican officials to help identify, prioritize and affect Emergency Management Assistance Compact missions, allowing for the right resources and personnel from the continental U.S. to be appropriately leveraged in support of the response effort.
• SERT has coordinated with private partners to secure three large transport vessels that have a combined passenger capacity of more than 7,500 individuals.
• SERT is working with private cellular infrastructure repair and support companies to assist the Puerto Rico response effort and deploy personnel, repair equipment, trucks and fuel needed for critical communications infrastructure repairs.
• SERT is identifying relief supplies for deployment. More than 2 million pounds of relief supplies are positioned in the Tampa Bay area for two large cargo aircraft transporting them to airports outside of San Juan. In addition, four hangars across the Tampa and Orlando areas are full of relief supplies are on standby for air transport.
• Available relief supplies include 220 Florida Point of Distribution (POD) support packages which are used for the distribution of water, food, and supplies to the public, 50 6,000-gallon potable water tankers, 300 fork lifts, 10 kitchen support units, 10 shower/laundry facilities, 1,000 light towers, and 1,200 portable generators standing by for transport to Puerto Rico as needed. In addition, Lowe’s is currently transporting 30 trailers worth of portable generators to Homestead for transport to Puerto Rico.
• SERT is working with utility partners at the State Emergency Operations Center to identify resources that may be offered to Puerto Rico. This includes personnel, repair equipment and expertise. Additionally, FPL has offered assessment teams that can quickly deploy and assist in determining critical infrastructure needs.
• SERT is working with fuel industry partners to secure ships transporting fuel, fuel trucks and bilingual drivers to transport fuel to areas with the most critical need. Two fuel barges are on standby for deployment.
• SERT, through the Florida Retail Federation, is coordinating with Florida’s major retailers in ensuring the availability and distribution of needed goods.
• SERT coordinated with the Humane Society of the United States to support pet and animal shelters in San Juan.

MILITARY SUPPORT

• The Florida Air National Guard’s 101st Air and Space Operations Group (AOG) continues to coordinate all military airflow in the Joint Operations Area through the execution of the AOC’s Regional Air Mobility Coordination Center (RAMCC). To date, they have coordinated over 2,000 flights, bringing more than 11,000 personnel and 14,000 tons of cargo in support of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
• The Florida Air National Guard’s 202nd REDHORSE Squadron sent an 18-person team on a 30-day mission to set up and support one of eight requested Disaster Relief Beddown Systems (DRBS) to Caguas, Puerto Rico.  Each DRBS provides the capability to support approximately 150 people with tents, cots, showers, latrines and water purification systems.
• The Florida National Guard has two Airmen in at Muniz Air National Guard Base to provide aircraft refuel support.
• Future missions include a 4-person communications team that will depart on 15 November, and a potential deployment of 10 personnel to support a Disaster Relief Mobile Kitchen Trailer (DRMKT).

LAW ENFORCEMENT

• The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) traveled to San Juan with Governor Scott and met with the Puerto Rico Department of Public Safety to discuss security concerns and needs.
• FDLE is coordinating a request for 500 law enforcement officers to deploy to Puerto Rico for security missions. The first officers, 50 Florida Highway Patrol Officers, will be deploying on Monday.
• An eight-member FDLE incident management team traveled to Puerto Rico, completed its mission and is back in Florida. Puerto Rico PD was able to take over the duties of the FDLE team.
• An eight-member multi-agency incident management team traveled to Puerto Rico, completed its mission and is back in Florida.  Agencies with members on the team included FDLE, FWC, FHP and DFS.

• The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has deployed Florida Licensing on Wheels (FLOW) Mobiles to the relief center at the Orlando International Airport and the Miami International Airport to provide credentialing services to impacted customers. In Orlando, three FLOW Mobile buses are outside the relief center and one FLOW mini unit is inside the relief center. In Miami, one FLOW mini unit is inside the relief center. So far, DHSMV FLOWs have served more than 6,900 customers seeking driver license, ID or motor vehicle services.
• Obtaining a Florida credential (DL or ID) will invalidate any previously-issued credential.
  • Customers who have been displaced by Hurricane Maria are not required to obtain a Florida driver license or ID.
  • Customers with all proper documentation who are displaced by Hurricane Maria and are in temporary lodging or share housing of another person due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason may obtain a Florida ID at no cost.
  • A non-Florida resident may continue to drive in Florida using their valid driver license.
  • An evacuee who is in possession of a valid Puerto Rican driver license, may obtain a 180-day temporary driving permit at no cost and retain their valid Puerto Rican driver license. Temporary permits will automatically expire following the 180 days.

• The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has identified volunteers from across the state that are part of the FWC Special Operations Group (SOG) to stand by for potential deployment. Many of these officers have recently deployed to assist with Hurricanes Harvey and Hurricane Irma response and recovery operations.

HEALTH AND MEDICAL

• The state is currently on the list of Federal Coordinating Centers (FCCs) to accept patients if needed from Puerto Rico as recovery efforts continue. The Florida Department of Health (DOH) will stand ready to coordinate patient transport as needed.
• DOH is supporting evacuees with gaining access to public health and medical programs including immunizations, prescriptions, WIC, and other programs.
• DOH is providing education and outreach at Disaster Relief Centers in Miami, Orlando, Sanford and Osceola County for Puerto Rican families displaced by Hurricane Maria.
• The State Regulatory Boards of Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine and Nursing have published information regarding expedited licensure online.
• The Agency for Health Care Administration will work with our federal partners to gather information on any waivers the Medicaid program would need to serve individuals from Puerto Rico. As always, the Medicaid program covers medically necessary services for children and families eligible for Medicaid.
• Florida Department of Children and Families staff are on site at the Disaster Relief Centers and are actively working to help Puerto Rican families identify what public assistance benefits are available, including Medicaid eligibility. These staff are also providing instructional handouts on how to apply for these benefits.
• The Agency for Persons with Disabilities employees are working with the Disaster Relief Centers to assist individuals with developmental disabilities from Puerto Rico. APD is meeting with families in need to discuss potential services while in Florida.

TRANSPORTATION & PUBLIC WORKS

• FDOT has communicated with Puerto Rico’s DOT Intelligent Transportation Systems Manager and his team to focus on areas in San Juan where they have the majority of traffic signals and Mayaguez, (the western portion of the island that was hardest hit).
• FDOT continues to hold regular weekly conference calls with counterparts in Puerto Rico, to provide technical assistance and exchange technical documents.
• Based on assessment of need, FDOT’s team of engineers are now set to deploy to Puerto Rico in January 2018 for a period of three (3) days.
• The mission of the FDOT team will be to provide technical exchange on sustainable ITS systems for Puerto Rico. Weekly conference calls will continue on the technical review prior to deployment.

VOLUNTEER FLORIDA

• Volunteer Florida is working with members of the Florida VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) to deploy volunteers to Puerto Rico to assist with amateur radio; cell phones, regular phones, the internet and other systems are down or overloaded; amateur radio assist getting important messages through.
• Volunteer Florida is providing information and resources to Floridians who want to make donations or volunteer at www.volunteerflorida.org.
• Volunteer Florida is coordinating with Disaster Relief Centers in Orlando and Miami to serve displaced families from Puerto Rico.
• Organizations and services at the Orlando Disaster Relief Center include:

• American Red Cross is registering families
• The United Way – providing registration for food assistance, housing assistance, medical needs and referrals to case management for extended needs.
• Latino Leadership, Inc. – providing registration for employment solutions, food banks, and clothing banks
• Catholic Charities – managing referrals for schooling, medical, health clinics, food pantries, ESL services, and financial assistance
• The Salvation Army – providing care along with hygiene kits and snacks and baby supplies; it is also providing comfort packages and shelf food packages (3 meals in one box)
• Shepard’s Hope – providing assistance with health insurance and medical needs
• Second Harvest Food Bank – providing food kits for distribution
• Florida Legal Services – Assisting evacuees with legal needs
• Goodwill – assisting with local job search, access to computer, phone, copiers

• Organizations and services at the Miami Disaster Relief Centers include:

• The United Way of Miami-Dade – coordinating services for displaced families
• Red Cross – providing family Reunification and is staffing the comfort station, providing water, snacks, comfort kits and sheltering if needed.
• Salvation Army – providing emotional and spiritual care along with hygiene kits and snacks and baby supplies, and limited housing
• Banyan – providing health services, family counseling, and crisis counseling
• Catholic Charities – providing assistance in accessing food, FEMA referrals, and assistance in accessing shelters
• Church World Services – assisting with overnight/short-term housing as available
• Salvation Army – providing bus passes to individuals through the DRC

BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT

• The Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and the local CareerSource boards deployed staff to meet evacuees at the Disaster Assistance Centers (DACs) opened at the Miami International Airport, Orlando International Airport and Tampa International Airport. Staff are on-site to provide information about resources available to assist them in Florida. Assistance has been provided to more than 2,400 individuals.
• Governor Rick Scott directed the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) Secretary Jonathan Zachem to issue an Emergency Order suspending all fees required for occupational license applications for residents of Puerto Rico who were impacted by Hurricane Maria and are now in Florida. This includes over 50 different individual professional license types, such as barbers and realtors. By suspending fees, residents from Puerto Rico will be able to obtain a license from the state more quickly and continue their careers in Florida. To view the order, click HERE.
• The Florida Retail Federation (FRF) is working with the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) and Florida’s major retailers to help Puerto Rico retailers’ operational status and requests for assistance.
• DEO has approved the release of Disaster Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funds to provide emergency services such as rent, utilities, food and transportation to disaster survivals including Puerto Rico evacuees. The CSBG Program is administered locally by Community Action Agencies (CAAs).

EDUCATION

• Florida school districts have processes in place to enroll K-12 students displaced by natural disasters, and all districts are prepared to enroll Puerto Rican evacuees. Families displaced by Hurricane Maria have begun arriving in Florida, and a number have already enrolled their students.
• Florida school districts have enrolled more than 6,300 displaced students from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
• Today, the U.S. Department of Education announced they plan to award $2 million in SERV grants to the Florida, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Departments of Education.
• The Commissioner has reauthorized the following waivers for an additional 30 days:
  • At Governor Scott’s direction, the Office of Early Learning (OEL) has temporarily waived rules and regulations that will allow Florida’s 30 early learning coalitions to enroll Puerto Rican children whose education records are unavailable due to the storm. This will make it easier for young children to continue their early learning education through Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten Program (VPK) and School Readiness Programs. To view the order, click HERE.
  • At Governor Scott’s direction, the Florida Department of Education (DOE) has temporarily waived rules and regulations that will allow Florida public school districts to enroll Puerto Rican students whose education records are unavailable due to the storm. The Governor also directed DOE to waive the educator certificate application fee and other requirements to help Puerto Rican educators displaced by the storm more easily continue their teaching careers in Florida. Upon receiving a request from a district superintendent, DOE will waive the application fee for an initial educator certificate and will allow the acceptance of an unofficial transcript of teaching degrees or copies of a valid teaching certificate issued by another state or U.S. territory. To view the order, click HERE.
  • At the direction of Governor Scott, Commissioner Stewart also signed a supplemental order authorizing state colleges to waive existing rules and other requirements to help Puerto Rican students more quickly enroll in college. At the request of Governor Scott, all 28 Florida College System institutions have agreed to offer in-state tuition to Puerto Rican students who were impacted by Hurricane Maria. To view the order, click HERE.
  • DOE has waived statutory and rule requirements related to residency and student records at Florida’s 48 technical centers. Additionally, all technical centers are offering displaced Puerto Rican students in-state tuition. To view the final order, click HERE.
• Commissioner Stewart issued a summary of guidance to all districts and will continue to work with school districts on additional issues as they arise.
• Florida Virtual School will accept 20,000 Puerto Rican students who were displaced by Hurricane Maria to ensure they are able to continue their education. To sign up, contact Liz Chico at (863) 606-8033.
• The Florida Department of Education is working closely with the Puerto Rico Department of Education to help them immediately take advantage of Florida Virtual School’s (FLVS) platform and curriculum once internet access is reinstated in Puerto Rico. This will enable Puerto Rican students and educators to continue essential education operations.
• The below Florida state colleges and universities are waiving out-of-state tuition and fees for students from Puerto Rico displaced by Hurricane Maria following a request by Governor Scott:

• Broward College
• Chipola College
• College of Central Florida
• Daytona State
• Eastern Florida State College
• Florida A&M University
• Florida Atlantic University
• Florida Gateway
• Florida Gulf Coast University
• Florida International University
• Florida Keys Community College
• Florida Polytechnic University
• Florida Southwestern State College
• Florida State College at Jacksonville
• Florida State University
• Gulf Coast State College
• Hillsborough Community College
• Indian River State College
• Lake Sumter
• Miami Dade College
• New College of Florida
• North Florida Community College
• Northwest Florida State College
• Palm Beach State
• Pasco-Hernando State College
• Pensacola State College
• Polk State College
• Santa Fe College
• Seminole State
• South Florida State College
• Johns River State College
• Petersburg College
• State College of Florida, Manatee–Sarasota
• Tallahassee Community College
• University of Central Florida
• University of Florida
• University of North Florida
• University of South Florida
• University of West Florida
• Valencia College

Governor Scott has also met with President Trump and Vice President Pence to discuss his trip to Puerto Rico and actions the State of Florida is taking to help with response and recovery. For more information on state response action for Hurricane Maria, visit www.floridadisaster.org/info/maria.

Tags: Government/Politics & Law