Tag: hurricane season

The South Florida congresswoman’s office noted that the recent collapse of a condo in Surfside helped lead to the proposal. 

This week, U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., the lead Republican on the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee's Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery, delivered the following opening statement in a subcommittee hearing on the climate's impact on homeland security.

U.S. Reps. Byron Donalds and Maria Elvira Salazar sent a letter to Isabella Guzman, the administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), urging her to provide more information on the preparedness of the Office of Disaster Assistance (ODA) for the 2021 hurricane season and the office’s ability to respond to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic while also managing loans stemming from natural disasters.

The PrepareFL.com website serves as a one-stop-shop for disaster preparedness information and resources to help Floridians ensure they are prepared to weather the next storm.

Following a record-breaking season last year, with 30 named storms, Moody is encouraging Floridians to make preparations now and to have a plan in place.

FEMA, which is currently deployed to assist with the COVID-19 pandemic, is also tasked with the crisis on the southern border. Hurricane season begins on June 1 and ends on November 30.

“For 2021, a likely range of 13 to 20 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 6 to 10 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 3 to 5 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher) is expected. NOAA provides these ranges with a 70 percent confidence.”

Last week, state Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis showcased his record in 2020, noting that his office has helped Florida families and businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic, fought fraud and held scam artists accountable, advocated for Florida’s firefighters and first responders, responded to the hurricane season, provided record-breaking unclaimed property returns to Floridians and advocated for Florida consumers and businesses.

“In an unprecedented year, thanks to Governor DeSantis’ decisive leadership, the Office of Insurance Regulation was able to act quickly to take proactive steps to protect consumers,” said Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier. “I remain resolute in my commitment to consumer protection, and while 2020 has provided challenges, we have risen to meet them. As we move forward, OIR will continue its work to promote a stable and competitive insurance market for Floridians.”

Patronis announced that he issued a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requesting they coordinate with the White House Coronavirus Task Force and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop more detailed guidance on providing utility workers the COVID-19 vaccine before the 2021 hurricane season, which starts on June 1. 

At the end of last week, Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis issued a statement regarding the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) report that predicts an extremely active hurricane season.

The current season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, and it has not been updated since 1965.