Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) signed an executive order Monday declaring a state of emergency in all of Florida’s 67 counties in order to assist those evacuated from Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria, his office said.
The governor’s office said the executive order will give Florida the resources it needs assist those feeling the catastrophic damage to Puerto Rico in the wake of the storm. Scott's office said the state will continue to coordinate with FEMA to help Puerto Rican evacuees with housing assistance, crisis counseling, unemployment assistance and legal advice.
In a statement, Scott said he signed the order “to ensure Florida has every available resource ready to assist families displaced by Hurricane Maria.”
“Puerto Rico was totally devastated by Hurricane Maria and so many families lost everything,” Scott said. “With families displaced by Hurricane Maria already present and still arriving in Florida, it is critical that our state is prepared to provide the resources they need upon entering our state.
“Our state is an incredible melting pot, and the success and growth we’ve seen over the years is credited to the wonderful people that live in Florida,” he added. “As Puerto Rico rebuilds, Florida remains committed to doing everything we can to help the families impacted by Hurricane Maria and aid in the recovery process.”
Scott’s office also said disaster relief centers will be set up at Orlando International Airport, Miami International Airport, and the Port of Miami to help connect those displaced by Hurricane Maria with resources such as housing and employment.
Florida’s Sun-Sentinel newspaper reported that Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, an American territory, on Sept. 20 as a Category 4 storm. The hurricane devastated the island, and most of Puerto Rico remains without electricity or drinking water nearly two weeks later.
The report added that Florida lawmakers anticipate that at least 100,000 Puerto Ricans will travel to Florida due to damage from the storm. They are seeking ways to assist evacuees with housing and jobs.
President Donald Trump confirmed on Twitter over the weekend that he and first lady Melania Trump plan to visit the island on Tuesday to help with relief efforts and tour the ravaged areas.
