Today, Governor Ron DeSantis was joined by Florida Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Jared Perdue in Jay and Florida Department of Commerce Secretary Alex Kelly in Vernon to provide updates on Florida’s ongoing recovery efforts following Hurricane Isaias.
In Jay, Governor DeSantis highlighted the state’s efforts to safely reopen schools and provide additional recovery resources to impacted Floridians. The Governor announced that 11 Points of Distribution are now operating across Escambia, Santa Rosa, Walton and Washington counties, providing free water, shelf-stable meals, ice, tarps and other essential supplies to residents impacted by the storm.
Governor DeSantis also announced that power has been restored to 95% of customers in areas impacted by Hurricane Isaias, following nearly 450,000 outages at the height of the storm.
In Vernon, Governor DeSantis announced $2.6 million in Rural Infrastructure Fund awards for Washington County to support roadway improvements, downtown revitalization and economic development. These awards are part of nearly $27 million awarded to 14 small and rural communities across Florida.
Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin at approximately 9:30 p.m. EDT on Friday, October 9, as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph. The storm brought damaging winds across Northwest Florida, with gusts reaching 116 mph in portions of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
State Preparedness and Public Safety
Florida State Guard
The FSG deployed nearly 400 soldiers to support recovery efforts, including damage assessments, debris removal, roadway clearance, distribution operations, and search and rescue missions.
The Crisis Response Battalion has deployed four amphibious rescue teams, 10 cut-and-toss teams, six skid steer teams, and five transportation teams to support debris removal, rescue operations, and the movement of critical supplies.
Seven UAS teams are conducting aerial reconnaissance, damage assessments, search and rescue operations, and monitoring storm impacts.
FSG is providing aerial reconnaissance and live footage to the State Emergency Operations Center, including assessments of critical infrastructure, beaches, flooding, and debris.
FSG UAS and cut-and-toss teams are supporting the FEMA Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment team by clearing routes for them to access impacted areas.
FSG continues coordinating with FHP, FWC, and FDEM to support recovery operations throughout impacted communities.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s (FDLE) Emergency Preparedness Bureau is actively coordinating the state law enforcement response to affected areas. They have coordinated with law enforcement partners for 66 total missions over 8 impacted counties during Hurricane Isias preparation and recovery.
FDLE is coordinating assets to impacted areas from Hurricane Isaias, including equipment and mobile command posts, backup satellite and communications systems, and aviation assets at strategic locations. Portable towers are staged for emergency communications.
FDLE Jacksonville Regional Operation Center (JROC) sent an Incident Management Team (IMT) to Pensacola, FL, to reinforce operations in the Pensacola Region.
FDLE helped coordinate vendor provided resources to support the Florida Sheriff’s Association (FSA) base camp in Santa Rosa County to include bunk houses, restroom trailers, and shower trailers.
FDLE aviation facilitated partner agency aircraft repairs, restoring operational capability to assist with storm recovery efforts.
FDLE UAS teams conducted LIDAR mapping of impacted areas for damage assessment.
FDLE aviation assets were deployment to assist with damage assessments and law enforcement support for impacted areas.
FDLE is coordinating fuel services along Interstate 10 for local law enforcement. First responder refueling locations have been identified along the Interstate 10 corridor.
FDLE is coordinating enhanced law enforcement patrols to keep traffic control equipment from being tampered with.
FDLE is coordinating with the Florida National Guard and the Florida State Guard to staff the security missions with the best resources for the missions.
Florida Department of Military Affairs
The Florida National Guard (FLNG) has approximately 2,013 Soldiers and Airmen activated, staged throughout impact area. Units are conducting search and rescue, route clearance, ground and air reconnaissance, humanitarian assistance (HA), protection of critical infrastructure, flood mitigation missions as well as supporting state and local officials with high-wheeled vehicle support.
The FLNG has more than 1,300 tactical high-wheeled vehicles, 10 Zodiac boats, and 50 construction/route clearance vehicles available for this mission.
Additionally, FLNG have eight helicopters (one CH-47, one HH-60, and six UH-60) available.
The FLNG has completed 62 missions of 81 missions assigned by the SEOC, including:
- Cleared more than 12,536 cubic acres of debris and 1,700 miles of roadway
- Distributed 17,441 cases of water, 8,387 MREs, 14,328 bags of ice and 9,937 tarps.
- 34.7 flight hours for search-and-rescue and damage assessment.
- Assisted with the relocation of 50 special needs residents.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
In addition to the 75 local Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officers, 28 additional FWC officers deployed to areas impacted by Hurricane Isaias with additional specialized equipment including:
- 10 airboats
- 18 shallow-draft boats
- Nine ATVs and side-by-sides
- Six larger platform vessels
- 75 four-wheel-drive vehicles
- Four swamp buggies
FWC officers worked together with local officers to identify derelict vessels in Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties and applied stickers to vessels already identified as derelict.
In response to requests from members of the public, FWC officers responded to residences to assist in clearing fallen trees from homes and applied tarps to roofs. FWC officers also cleared trees from areas inaccessible to emergency vehicles, provided high visibility nighttime patrol in affected areas.
FWC is preparing for demobilization of deployed officers and equipment.
Florida Department of Corrections
The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) is currently in storm response and recovery.
- At FDC Institutions: All facilities are secure, and all inmates have been accounted for. Staff accountability is complete.
- In FDC Circuits: The Office of Community Corrections has resumed fieldwork operations. Staff accountability is complete.
FDC has mobilized damage assessments teams in Region I and Region II to survey impacts. At this time, minor damages have been reported at institutions in Region I, and no damage has been reported in Region II.
FDC institutions impacted by the storm have safely returned to operating on commercial power and repopulation of evacuated locations have been completed.
FDC posts public updates at FDC.MyFlorida.com/weather-updates.
Florida Department of Juvenile Justice
The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice has initiated wellness checks on staff and youth in impacted areas. Youth and staff in DJJ facilities are accounted for and safe. There is minimal damage to facilities, and DJJ will continue its post-storm recovery efforts including the continued assessment of facilities and post-storm clean-up.
DJJ continues to coordinate with its staff, providers, and law enforcement partners to ensure juvenile assessment centers and detention screening units remain operational post-storm.
Youth on community supervision with office appointments will be given specific instructions from their juvenile probation officers about office closures.
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) troopers continue supporting recovery operations by clearing roadways, escorting utility crews and critical supplies, managing traffic, and monitoring flooding, including:
- Four Troopers are assisting FDOT with traffic control in Santa Rosa County at SR87/Springhill Rd.
FHP Troopers are providing storm-recovery security in Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Walton counties, including protecting utility crews, patrolling to deter generator and fuel theft, and securing POD locations.
Four FHP cut teams have completed 60 debris removal missions, while 47 Quick Response Force personnel are assisting with roadway clearance and emergency response.
201 troopers are operating across impacted areas and the Central Panhandle, including managing intersections in Milton and maintaining a law enforcement presence along I-10.
FHP UAS teams are conducting damage assessments, monitoring rising floodwaters, and supporting search and rescue operations.
FHP’s Aviation Unit are supporting recovery efforts, evaluating traffic and roadway conditions and monitoring river flood levels and its impacts on bridges, roadways and communities.
Two high-water rescue vehicles and seven skid steers are staged to support ongoing recovery efforts.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) issued an emergency order waiving certain commercial vehicle requirements, motorist fees, and late renewal penalties to support recovery efforts.
Health and Human Services
Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Outpatient Clinics in Pensacola, Eglin Air Force Base, Panama City, Marianna, and Tallahassee are closed and scheduled to re-open on Tuesday, October 13.
Homeless Veterans in the Florida Panhandle may contact the VA National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at (877) 424-3838.
Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities
The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) continues monitoring facilities, providers, and clients in storm-impacted areas, with no unmet needs reported.
APD-operated facilities are supporting 436 residents, with an additional 14 hospitalized. Sunland Center experienced temporary power outages and downed trees but reported no structural damage.
APD is monitoring 145 group homes serving 700 residents across affected counties. One group home in Panama City relocated residents as a precaution, with no unmet needs reported.
APD continues outreach to more than 2,700 clients living in family homes or independent and supported living settings to assess needs and aid.
APD has established regional emergency reporting channels and made emergency resources available to clients, families, and providers.
Florida Department of Health
The Florida Department of Health (DOH) continues supporting medical response and recovery efforts, including coordinating emergency medical services, distributing critical supplies, and addressing public health concerns.
DOH warehouse operations are running 24/7 to distribute critical medical supplies and resources.
Special Needs Shelter remain open in Santa Rosa counties.
Boil Water Notices remain in effect in seven counties: Escambia, Holmes, Jackson, Santa Rosa, Suwannee, Walton, and Washington.
DOH is coordinating water service restoration for health care facilities in Escambia County and deploying environmental health resources to impacted communities.
Continued demobilizing resources, such as patient movement assets and responders.
Environmental Public Health Strike Team (EPHST) are mobilizing to Santa Rosa.
Two County health departments reported closure: Escambia, Santa Rosa. DOH is providing public health guidance on generator safety, flooding, safe drinking water, and other post-storm hazards.
Florida Agency for Health Care Administration
The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) continues working with Medicaid managed care plans to ensure recipients have access to critical health care services following Hurricane Isaias.
All Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) plans remain fully operational, with call centers assisting recipients and conducting outreach to individuals with medically complex needs.
Early prescription refills remain available to Medicaid recipients in impacted counties.
Medicaid transportation services have experienced minimal disruptions, and plans continue coordinating with providers to ensure continuity of care.
Medicaid recipients needing assistance can contact their managed care plan or the Medicaid Helpline at 1-877-254-1055, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
AHCA surveyors continue conducting post-hurricane on-site visits to assess conditions at health care facilities.
Florida Department of Children and Families
The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) continues supporting Hurricane Isaias response and recovery, coordinating more than 690 pallets of food, 290 pallets of water, 144 pallets of hygiene and cleanup supplies, and hot meal support for impacted communities.
DCF is supporting recovery sheltering in Okaloosa County and has mobilized a shelter support team, totaling 75 shelter personnel, 18 nursing support personnel, survivor shelter transportation vehicles, and a crisis counseling task force.
DCF is staffed a comfort center at 150 East Pond Street in Century, Florida, on October 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CDT, providing residents with access to restrooms, showers, laundry facilities, food and water, feminine hygiene products, cleaning supplies, cooling tents, and a charging station.
DCF has completed outreach in impacted areas, contacting all caregivers and providers involved in active child protective investigations, children in out-of-home care, and adult protective services clients to identify unmet needs and connect individuals with resources.
Northwest Florida Health Network has activated resources to support impacted children in out-of-home care and individuals receiving behavioral health services.
DCF is conducting checks of licensed locations in impacted areas to conduct damage assessments and address unmet needs as it becomes safe to do so.
Floridians who currently receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) benefits and lost food due to Hurricane Isaias may be eligible for replacement benefits. Eligible households in impacted counties may request replacement benefits through Monday, October 19, 2026.
