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

Today, Governor Rick Scott provided an update on resources being deployed to Puerto Rico to assist with recovery and response efforts following Hurricane Maria.

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, two Multi-Agency Resource Centers have opened at Orlando International Airport and Miami International Airport 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 199,000 individuals have arrived in Florida from Puerto Rico through Miami International Airport, Orlando International Airport and Port Everglades.
• The Multi-Agency Resource Center at the Orlando International Airport, Miami International Airport, and the Port of Miami have served more than 30,000 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.
  Hurricane Irma and Maria survivors can find more information by contacting FEMA Disaster Assistance at 1-800-621-3362 or visit www.disasterassistance.gov. They can also contact the State Assistance Information Line at 1-800-342-3557