Florida Governor Ron DeSantis told CBS News on Wednesday evening that state officials were “absolutely” prepared for the arrival of Hurricane Milton.
“We have 50,000 linemen ready to quickly restore power,” DeSantis said. “We also have a full mobilization of the Florida National Guard, and we’re also receiving a lot of assets from other states, so this will be the largest search and rescue operation we’ve ever conducted.”
The governor said “by and large, people answered the call” to evacuate.
He said the state’s shelters have “plenty of space,” noting they are designed to withstand a Category 3 storm.
“Look, at this point, if you’re on the west coast of Florida, it’s probably too dangerous to go to a shelter,” DeSantis said. “But one of the things we’ve done in Florida is emphasize that when you’re sheltering in place, you don’t have to get on the highway and drive hundreds of miles. We have places, even in the Counties that are in the eye of storms, that are inland, that are not susceptible to storm surge, but are hurricane-proof.
DeSantis also addressed disinformation ” that circulated online about relief efforts for Hurricanes Milton and Helene, calling it “nonsense.”
“I think there are some people, we live in a time where you can monetize a lot of this nonsense online,” DeSantis said. “You can get a lot of clicks, but that’s not the case in Florida. So we’re going to do it right, your property will be protected. And we’re going to make sure you get your feet back.”
