As Dorian looms, hurricane preparation efforts in Florida have ramped up significantly. Businesses, communities and residents are buckling down for the incoming impacts of the season’s first major hurricane.
In typical fashion , grocery store shelves have been picked clean with shoppers gathering up every last supply before hunkering down. Batteries, paper towels, alcohol and, of course, bottled water were on everybody’s list.
At a Costco in Miami, shoppers were prohibited from buying more than four cases of water.
Gas stations have seen lines extend down the streets as residents fear similar gasoline shortages that plagued the state during Hurricane Irma in 2017. During the preparation for Irma, 58% of stations ran out of gasoline in Gainesville, Florida, according to GasBuddy.
A few aircraft are even being evacuated from MacDill Air Force Base ahead of Hurricane Dorian, relocating to McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas, according to WFLA.
Photo via: @MrD_CCNNLive
In a press conference on Thursday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an Executive Order that expanded the state of emergency to include all 67 counties in Florida.
“That is to assist in preparation efforts,” DeSantis said. “One of the things that a state of emergency allows us to do is to get more fuel into the gas stations … We’ve heard reports of there being fuel shortages already in places like Brevard County, this executive order allows more of that fuel to come.”
Gas shortages were an issue in Florida during Hurricane Irma's approach in 2017.
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and DeSantis have both spoken with President Donald Trump in recent days. On Twitter, DeSantis said Trump reassured him that Florida would have the necessarysupport that the state needs.
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and DeSantis have both spoken with President Donald Trump in recent days. On Twitter, DeSantis said Trump reassured him that Florida would have the necessary
Scott served as Florida's governor during Irma two years ago and Hurricane Michael in 2018. He said he was also in touch with Vice President Mike Pence, Red Cross CEO Gail McGovern and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to discuss the federal government's response to Dorian.
Thursday afternoon, DeSantis announced that 2,500 members of the Florida National Guard had been activated, with an additional 1,500 on standby.
I just spoke with @realDonaldTrump as Hurricane #Dorian approaches Florida. This storm continues to gain strength quickly.
The President reiterated his commitment to Florida and assured me that the federal government stands ready to help our state.
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"I spoke with President Trump yesterday and he assured me that the federal government would be with me every step of the way, supporting us in any way that they can," DeSantis said during the press conference. "I've also spoken with the acting FEMA director and he assured me that they're going to be working closely with us."
President Trump announced on Thursday afternoon that he will not be traveling to Poland this weekend as he had originally planned due to Hurricane Dorian.
DeSantis also requested a pre-landfall declaration from the government, which would provide assistance to residents with direct federal assistance for generators and water pumps.
Residents have filled sand bags and and emergency officials have prepared water pumps for any flooding concerns that may emerge as the storm makes its impact on Monday. In the storms first impacts, Dorian caused widespread power outages in both the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, including island-wide blackouts in St. Thomas and Tortola.
DeSantis echoed that warning to residents of his state, telling people that they need to prepare for the worst and assume that if they're affected by the storm, power will be lost.
"The message right now is that all Floridians need to monitor Hurricane Dorian and make the necessary preparations," DeSantis said. "This is a track that has a significant amount of uncertainty ... So really the key is to have your plan and make those preparations right now."
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