DeSantis Orders Florida National and State Guard to Keep Ports Open as State Recovers From Hurricane Helene

Skip to comments.

Posted on 10/04/2024 5:32:52 AM PDT by MtnClimber

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday that he has ordered the Florida National Guard and Florida State Guard deploy to ports affected by the Longshoremen strike to maintain order and potentially resume operations.

During a press conference in Manatee County, DeSantis discussed three executive actions he’s taken amid the ongoing hurricane recovery efforts in Florida. The first action he announced was the lifting of time restrictions on rentals, so residents who need a place to stay while they repair their homes are not limited. The governor said he also authorized supervisors of elections in the hardest-hit counties to make appropriate accommodations so people are still able to vote in the November election.

And DeSantis said it was “unacceptable” to let the dockworkers’ strike undermine residents who need supplies to rebuild homes and businesses.

“At my direction the Florida National Guard and the Florida State Guard will be deployed to critical ports affected to maintain order, and if possible, resume operations that would otherwise be shut down during this interruption,” the governor said.

With 16 deepwater ports, Florida is a hub for worldwide trade and an essential link in our nation’s supply chain. Four of these ports—Port Everglades, PortMiami, Port Tampa Bay, and JAXPORT—are impacted by the International Longshoreman’s Association strike and the inaction of the Biden-Harris Administration.

Disrupting the distribution of food, equipment, and supplies as the Southeast U.S. recovers from Hurricane Helene is unacceptable. Floridians need a reliable, steady supply of resources and building materials to keep their families fed and rebuild their homes and businesses.

Desantis said he had ordered the Florida Department of Transportation to “waive the collection of tolls and fees as well as size and weight restrictions for commercial vehicles to help expedite the transportation of goods from our ports while offsetting operational costs.”

He also said the Florida Highway Patrol would “manage the flow of traffic from all Florida seaports as needed to further expedite the flow of goods held up by the strike.”

“Unlike the federal government, Florida is taking decisive action to ensure that our economy continues to function and that victims of Hurricane Helene will have access to what they need to rebuild,” said DeSantis.

Click here: to donate by Credit Card

Or here: to donate by PayPal

Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794

Thank you very much and God bless you.

1 posted on 10/04/2024 5:32:52 AM PDT by MtnClimber

To: MtnClimber

2 posted on 10/04/2024 5:33:01 AM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page. More photos added.)

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson