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Scott PowersOctober 4, 2017

After touring Puerto Rico earlier this week, U.S. Rep. Darren Soto declared the island is in emergency need of robust emergency federal funding, not just to assure full federal relief efforts from Hurricanes Maria and Irma, but to keep the commonwealth’s government operating in a place where almost no one can work. “The stories that […]

Scott PowersOctober 3, 2017

Help for Puerto Rico and for Puerto Ricans evacuating to Florida is going to be best provided by the rapidly-rising group of private groups, churches, and companies and government coordination will have to be done by the state, leaving little direct power for Orange County and other counties, Mayor Teresa Jacobs said Tuesday. Jacobs and […]

Phil AmmannSeptember 29, 2017

What a month for Jacksonville. We survived it all. We survived Hurricane Irma and its floods that turned downtown to a lake and brought the river into some of the finest homes in Avondale and San Marco. Then, we survived the politicians’ photo ops. We saw the Jaguars court opprobrium when some knelt for the […]

Associated PressSeptember 27, 2017

Relatives helped Maribel Valentin Espino find shelter when Hurricane Maria roared through her community in northern Puerto Rico. Neighbors formed volunteer brigades to cut fallen trees and clear twisty mountain roads after the storm had passed. Now, friends and a local cattle ranch provide the water they need to survive in the tropical heat. Valentin […]

Associated PressSeptember 25, 2017

Nearly 17,000 flood insurance claims connected with Hurricane Irma have been filed, and more are expected in the coming weeks. The Sun-Sentinel reports that of 16,786 flood claims filed through Thursday, 3,969 were filed in Monroe County. FEMA data shows that Miami-Dade residents have filed 1,870 claims, 829 have been filed in Broward County and 199 […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 22, 2017

After a two-week sabbatical, Jacksonville Bold returns this week — with much of the content dealing with a city battling back from well-documented storm impacts (massive flooding in areas, power outages, et al.) And, like Bold, the city is coming back. Before the Jaguars kicked off Sunday, power was substantially restored (though it seemed to […]

Terry RoenSeptember 21, 2017

Politicians released statements Thursday urging support for Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Caribbean countries following the devastation left by Hurricane Maria. Gov. Rick Scott said he called the governors of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands offering support and anything they need. “Our hearts go out to them and they are in our […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 19, 2017

The city of Jacksonville’s IOUs are starting to pile up from FEMA. The city is owed $26 million in reimbursements after Hurricane Matthew, and expectations are that Irma will cost even more. Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry again addressed the shortfall Tuesday. “We’ll get through this storm,” Curry told reporters, “but my team will be aggressively working […]

Associated PressSeptember 18, 2017

Dealing with wrecked belongings and reports of toxic muck, residents of a tiny town where Florida’s Everglades meet the Gulf of Mexico cleared their homes Monday in scorching 92 F (33 C) heat with no air conditioning and no electricity except from a few generators. The isolated Everglades City community of about 400 people suffered […]

Associated PressSeptember 17, 2017

Tim Stanton emerged from his ruined workshop off Highway 1 on Big Pine Key and collapsed to the ground, his sunburned, tear-covered face contorted in anguish. The skeleton-thin 58-year-old with long, stringy gray hair sat under an old gas station awning, overcome by his personal loss in this idyllic place that was one of the […]

Tag: FEMA
Pastel colored tropical townhomes

Darren Soto: Congress must quickly approve robust relief package for Puerto Rico

Teresa Jacobs: Orange County’s role limited for Puerto Rico, Puerto Ricans

Jacksonville Bold for 9.29.17 — Wake me up when September ends

‘Nothing, nothing.’ Aid lags in hurricane-torn Puerto Rico

Floridians file nearly 17,000 flood insurance claims

Jacksonville Bold for 9.23.17 — Recovery mode

Politicians offer support after Hurricane Maria

Rick Scott: Advance payments a possibility for Jax FEMA reimbursements

SW Florida residents clear sodden homes in scorching heat

Irma wipes out dreams across independent-minded Florida Keys