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Staff ReportsOctober 6, 2017

A spokesman for Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine, who is widely expected to jump into next year’s race for governor, Friday explained his political committee’s lack of fundraising for September. “In the month of September, Mayor Levine was solely focused on helping a number of communities prepare and weather Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, and therefore made […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 26, 2017

With a little more than two months left in the 2017 hurricane season, Florida’s emergency management head is leaving his job “to pursue an opportunity in the private sector,” the Governor’s Office announced Tuesday. Gov. Rick Scott announced Bryan Koon’s resignation as director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management (DEM), effective next Sunday. “On Sept. 1, […]

Associated PressMay 18, 2017

The Florida fund that helps private insurers pay out claims after a hurricane continues to be in strong shape ahead of storm season. Estimates prepared by Raymond James show the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund will have $17.6 billion available this year. This marks the second year in a row that fund has more money than […]

Florence SnyderDecember 26, 2016

Like a teenager who wants Daddy’s money, but not Daddy’s directives, Gov. Rick Scott is not embarrassed to throw tantrums when the feds fail to pony-up fast enough whenever it rains, even as he sticks his fingers in his ears at unwanted advice like “try rolling up your windows.” Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) director Craig […]

Associated PressOctober 24, 2016

Donald Trump said he received a $17 million insurance payment in 2005 for hurricane damage to Mar-a-Lago, his private club in Palm Beach, but The Associated Press found little evidence of such large-scale damage. Two years after a series of storms, the real estate tycoon said he didn’t know how much had been spent on […]

Associated PressOctober 19, 2016

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Florida’s streak of dodging hurricanes is over, but the state-created fund that helps private insurers pay out claims after a storm remains in strong financial shape. Anne Bert, the chief operating officer of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, said preliminary estimates predict that the fund will pay out less than $200 million for Hurricane Matthew. […]

Associated PressOctober 6, 2016

Hundreds of thousands of anxious people boarded up their homes and businesses and grabbed a few belongings to flee inland as Hurricane Matthew gained strength and roared toward the Southeast seaboard on Thursday. In Florida, Gov. Rick Scott said the state, its skies already darkening from early outer rain bands of the life-threatening storm, could […]

Associated PressOctober 5, 2016

President Barack Obama is being briefed on the federal government’s preparation for Hurricane Matthew as the Category 3 storm makes its way to the U.S. mainland. The president says now is the time to “hope for the best but we want to prepare for the worst.” Obama is at the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s headquarters. […]

Associated PressOctober 5, 2016

The National Hurricane Center has extended the hurricane warning northward in Florida as Matthew heads toward the East Coast. Meanwhile, Hurricane Matthew is heading toward the Bahamas after hitting Cuba hard. The hurricane center says the hurricane was about 105 miles (165 kilometers) south of Long Island, Bahamas. It has maximum sustained winds of 120 […]

Associated PressOctober 5, 2016

Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in Brevard County, and voluntary evacuations have been activated in St. Lucie County, but Gov. Rick Scott urged other coastal residents potentially in harm’s way not to wait to be told to leave. The governor said during a Wednesday morning news conference that “if you’re able to go early, leave […]

Tag: hurricanes
Image via AP

Philip Levine attributes lack of fundraising to hurricanes

Personnel note: Bryan Koon quits as state emergency management head

Florida’s hurricane fund remains strong heading into season

Craig Fugate fumes while Florida sinks in a sea of bulls**t!

Donald Trump took $17M in insurance for Mar-a-Lago damage few remember

Despite storms Florida hurricane fund remains in good shape

Hundreds of thousands flee Florida coast to escape Matthew’s fury

Obama briefed on federal hurricane preparations, S.C. town closes in preparation

Hurricane warning extended for Florida’s coast

Evacuations underway in 2 Florida counties