RESPONSE TO MILTON: Governor gives Monday afternoon update from state EOC

UPDATE AT 3:30 P.M.:

• Gov. DeSantis says this is a "ferocious hurricane" and it's "not a storm you want to take a risk on."
• Florida is using fuel reserves, using 415,000 gallons of diesel and 389,000 gallons of gas
• 1.5 million gallons of both are heading to the state and says there is no fuel shortage
• Generators are going to special needs shelters
• More than 2,000 feet of flood protection systems are being deployed along with Starlinks
• More than 200 ambulances will be deployed in Central Florida
• Over 30,000 linemen are en route with some coming from as far as California. The state is bracing for significant power outages
• Hundreds of state search and rescue personnel are coming in
• Uber will finalize a code so people can get a free ride to shelters
• Kevin Guthrie, the EOC's director, says if you are in a condo or high-rise, evacuate out — not up.

Governor Ron DeSantis will give a second update on the state response to Hurricane Milton on Monday afternoon from the State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee.
Watch the news conference live here at 3:30 pm:

State Preparedness Efforts

• The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) has activated the State Emergency Operations Center to Level 1 since Tuesday, September 24, for Hurricane Helene, and is at a Level 1 for Hurricane Milton as of October 6, leading coordination efforts for the State Emergency Response Team. 
  
• The State Emergency Response Team is engaged in over 600 missions to assist counties in their preparedness efforts. These missions accomplish vital tasks like staging resources to deploy for immediate response as soon as it is safe to do so, protecting critical infrastructure facilities like hospitals and utility stations, and coordinating personnel statewide.
  
• FDEM is establishing a 10,000-person base camp at Tropicana Field to support ongoing debris operations and post-landfall responders.
  
• FDEM is coordinating the deployment of fuel and EV chargers to pre-stage along evacuation routes to support evacuations.

Infrastructure, Roads and State Closures

• The Florida Department of Transportation's (FDOT) Hurricane Milton statewide preparedness efforts include clearing shoulders in preparation for potential Emergency Should Use (ESU):
  
  • Currently analyzing flooding vulnerabilities for major roadways and bridges.
    
  • Inspecting and clearing drainage systems, monitoring flood-prone and currently saturated areas, and pre-positioning pumps as appropriate.
    
  • Monitoring interstate traffic speeds and levels for the potential implementation of Emergency Should Use (ESU) to assist with evacuations if necessary.
    
  • Securing high mast lighting, maintenance yards, active construction projects, rest areas/welcome centers, service plazas, and weigh stations that had returned to normal since Hurricane Helene.
    
  • Barges at the Howard Frankland Bridge project is being secured.
    
  • FDOT has suspended construction projects with lane closures within all counties statewide located on all interstates and Florida Turnpike facilities.
    
  • Replenishing fuel reserves, checking generator readiness, and pre-positioning assets as appropriate.
    
  • Completing repairs on malfunctioning vehicles and equipment in preparation for deployment.
    
  • Initiated communication with modal partners – seaports, airports, railroads, transit, and spaceports. All partners are currently in monitoring posture.
    
  • Staging ITS trailers, as well as drone teams and equipment are being prepped and ready to deploy as needed.
    
  • Expanded Road Ranger Service across the impact zones.
    
• Resources prepped and staged strategically (close to the projected path for quick implementation)
  
  • Cut & Toss Ops = 328 team members on standby
    
  • Over 1,015 generators
    
  • Over 350 pieces of heavy equipment and trucks
    
  • 67 pumps pre-positioned
    
  • Satellite internet equipment= 58 Starlink devices
    
  • Over 1,900 team members on standby for various emergency response efforts, including, damage assessment, flooding, traffic signals outages, etc.
    
  • FDOT has 20 drone pilots on standby
    
  • 8 ITS trailers staged
    
  • Over 150 bridge inspectors on standby
    
• FDOT has removed 139,718 cubic yards of debris statewide (66,278 from state roads and 73,440 from local roads).
  
• FDOT is supporting our local communities with supplemental sand and debris removal from local roads on the barrier islands in Pinellas and Manatee counties.
  
• At the direction of Gov. DeSantis, FDOT is coordinating debris removal assignments for the Florida National Guard, Florida State Guard, Florida Highway Patrol, Florida Department of Agriculture, amongst others, who have activated available state personnel and resources to clear and haul remaining debris.
  
• Approximately 450 truckloads and 8,100 cubic yards of debris have been removed from Pinellas barrier islands.
  
• FDOT encourages drivers to download the FL511 app or visit FL511.com for road/bridge closures and potential detours that may be activated. Remember to always follow the direction of local law enforcement and emergency personnel.
  
• Transportation Modes:
  
  • Seaports, Airports, Rail, and Transit partners are monitoring storm conditions.
    
  • Please check with your airline or transportation service provider directly about potential service impacts.
    
  • Transit agencies in the impacted area are offering evacuation transportation to shelters. Please check with your local transit provider for schedules.
    
  • SunRail operations will be suspended starting Tuesday, October 8