by Don Surber
A 500-year hurricane wiped out most of Florida this week. The Tampa Bay Times described the devastation.
The newspaper said, “It wasn’t just the coastline, though it took most of the blow.
“As Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida on Wednesday, the beach towns were the first to go as water and winds up to 150 mph decimated paradise towns from Fort Myers Beach to Punta Gorda — a city familiar with disaster, taking close to a decade to recover from 2004′s Hurricane Charley.
“Houses were torn from foundations by water that acted as a conveyor belt. Personal belongings and building materials fused with wet earth.
“But the wrecked beach towns marked only the beginning.
“An hour northeast of Fort Myers, in rural inland communities like Arcadia, the extent of the damage began to reveal itself Friday.
“The trunks in the orange groves bend to the right or left, mapping the trail of the storm that blazed through the farming community.”
The cleanup will take months. Recovery will take years. Even for a state that deals with hurricanes every year, this one could be too much.
But 4 years ago, Floridians elected the right Florida Man to run the state government. He didn’t wind up in a motel room drunk and stoned with male hookers. DeSantis knew what to do and is doing it.
This week, Politico said, “Gov. Ron DeSantis spent his first term becoming one of the most influential Republicans in the country — a likely 2024 frontrunner who’s already shaping his party’s national agenda.
“But DeSantis still hasn’t faced one of the toughest challenges a Florida leader can encounter: a major hurricane.”
On Sunday, he mobilized the National Guard.
On Monday, he activated the state’s emergency services. He issued warnings on what to expect in the surges.
On Tuesday, he issued an evacuation order.
Then the hurricane hit. Since then, he has been everywhere. Biden and DeSantis called a truce.
The president said, “This is not about whether — anything having to do with our differences politically. This is about saving people’s homes, lives, businesses.”
Biden is right. There is a time to politick and there is a time to govern. This is the time to govern.
But mine is a political blog and it is through that lens I view events a thousand miles away from Poca, West Virginia.
DeSantis passed the test. Problems crop up and he is on it.
He had a stern warning for looters: “Don’t even think about looting. Don’t even think about taking advantage of people in this vulnerable situation. I can tell you, in the state of Florida, you never know what may be lurking behind somebody’s home. And I would not want to chance that, if I were you, given that we’re a Second Amendment state.”
Looting is stealing the last remaining possessions of an impoverished people.
The governor was not just playing Mister Tough Guy.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “We don’t want people ever, moving into the future to say, ‘Well, when Ian hit, people went into homes and they robbed their homes they burglarized their homes. I don’t want to leave my home.’ We never want that to be an impediment to people getting out when we say get out.”
Moody is demanding looters remain in jail without bond.
It is Saturday. DeSantis already is discussing recovery. He is giving a troubled people — many who lost everything — hope and encouragement.
The growth of population and development will make this the costliest storm ever. Last I heard 77 so far have perished out of the millions of residents.
Utilities trucks from 34 states wait for the clearance to go restore power.
https://www.facebook.com/kwchnews/videos/ready-to-help-hundreds-of-utility-trucks-from-34-states-are-now-in-florida-to-he/519771112109101/
I sure hope they have their guns loaded against Looters
Joy Reid Says DeSantis’ Warning to Potential Looters is a Racist Threat from ‘Segregationist’
Joy Reid lashed out at DeSantis.
“When the looting starts, the shooting starts.”—segregationist Miami sheriff Walter E. Headley, 1967,” MSNBC host Joy Reid said. “Didn’t take DeSantis long to return to form.”
Apparently Joy Reid thinks only black people loot?
“Don’t even think about looting,” DeSantis said later.
“I can tell you in the state of Florida, you never know what may be lurking behind somebody’s home,” DeSantis said. “And I would not want to chance that if I were you — given that we’re a Second Amendment state.”
Joy Reid and her morning herd, the daily dose of ignorance and bigotry.
Compare DeSantis’ performance in the midst of an unplanned catastrophic event and idiot Biden’s performance in the long-planned withdrawal from Afghanistan. Nuff said.
10/06/22 – Undaunted by DeSantis, immigrant workers are heading to Florida to help with hurricane cleanup
Maybe he’ll round them up and use FEMA’s hurricane relief funds to sent them to Martha’s Vineyard.
When disaster struck, DeSantis typically STFU about how useless the Democratic presidents and federal government are. As with Abbott and the Texas wildfires of a few years ago, he’ll pick up the tune again as soon as assistance has been rendered. Meanwhile, there are all of those wonderful photo ops…
Greg, nobody here gives a damn about any of your snark and speculation. The only thing that matters to rational people is that he’s getting the job done. Name one Leftist Governor who has had a better response to another natural disaster. Let’s start with Hurricane Katrina, shall we? Or would you rather ignore that mess?
Comrade Greggie; my, you never seen to tire of showing others how ignorant you are.
Every state has a FEMA agreement with the Federal government. Most state that the state is pretty much on its own for the first 72 hours. And as someone who was right in the middle of the Texas “wildfires” I can tell you FEMA was slow to react, like maple syrup in the dead of winter.
Texans can, and do, fend for themselves unlike New York and California.
Wheres the money from the Haiti disaster? Another Democrap disaster response.
Or all the Puerto Rican aid money and materials trashed or stolen by Democrats to try and make it appear Trump didn’t come to their aid?
“Simply Unfathomable” — DeSantis Rebuilt A Hurricane-Destroyed Bridge In Three Days
When disaster struck, DeSantis typically STFU about how useless the Democratic presidents and federal government are.
Until idiot Biden decided to make the trip to Florida one of his rare campaign appearances where he made the disaster a political propaganda piece for the left’s climate change hoax.
All idiot Biden is concerned with is maintaining his dumping ground for illegal immigrants.
Storm Chasers, they are called storm chasers often sub par work or take the money and run.
Illegals helping Florida? Not new. Illegals were HIRED by contactors and overran Mississippi after Katrina. Who got rich? The contractors who illegally hired illegals.
Seems to me like a great way for New York to get rid of the illegals they don’t want.
Resilience Force is a far left wing pro New Green Deal, pro-illegal organization that operates as a bogus 501(c)3. Just another left wing scam group.
It is illegal to hire illegals.
FLA has no intention of hiring any illegals to do clean up work.
If anything, this is the lefty progressive leaders in NY TRICKING illegals into getting on busses or planes.
Hope and encouragement doesn’t feed or shelter people.
10/29/22 – Federal Support for Florida’s Hurricane Ian Recovery Surpasses $1.6 Billion; Additional Counties Eligible for Direct Temporary Housing
How’s that hope and encouragement working out in San Francisco? It’s not a hurricane but a normal feature. The best democrats can do for the modern progressive city. I have choices and could pick other Democrat run cities. I doubt this will make the travel brochures.
This is what Democrats envision for the entire nation.
That’s what we pay taxes (those of us who PAY taxes, that is) for, scooter.