TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – President Donald Trump will travel to Florida on Thursday, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said Tuesday. Trump is expected to survey the damage left behind by Hurricane Irma.
"The president and the entire administration continue to monitor the situation in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Florida, Texas and all areas affected by hurricanes Irma and Harvey," Sanders said.
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No further details were immediately available about where exactly Trump will travel.
He has a home in Palm Beach.
“The devastation left by Hurricane Irma was far greater, at least in certain locations, than anyone thought --- but amazing people working hard!” Trump posted on Twitter earlier Tuesday.
Gov. Scott orders freeze on insurance rate hikes
As homeowners and businesses recover from Hurricane Irma, Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday ordered the state of Florida’s top insurance regulator to “freeze any and all efforts” to increase property-insurance rates.
A news release did not detail rate proposals that could be affected by the 90-day freeze. It did include directives from Scott to Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier.
The Office of Insurance Regulation, at least in part, held a hearing in August on a proposal by the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. that would increase rates for many customers, according to news briefs from the state capital.
“Due to the devastating effects of Hurricane Irma, Floridians should be focused on getting back to their normal lives without their insurance premiums being increased,” Scott said.
Policyholders who had their coverage canceled or not renewed in the days preceding Irma should get 90 days to renew their policies or find new coverage, Scott added. He also directed Altmaier to provide an extra 90 days for policyholders to submit required information to insurance companies -- pointing to large numbers of people displaced by the hurricane.
University students, prepare to return to campus
The University of Florida, the University of Central Florida, the University of North Florida, New College of Florida and the University of South Florida's Tampa and St. Petersburg campuses are set to reopen Thursday, the university system said.
Students at the University of West Florida returned to classes Tuesday.
Classes will resume Monday at Florida Atlantic University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida Polytechnic University, Florida State University and Florida A&M University.
The reopening date of USF's Sarasota-Manatee campus hasn’t been determined.
FAMU has not announced reopening dates for the College of Law in Orlando and the Developmental Research School in Tallahassee.
Florida International University in Miami will remain closed through at least Monday, with no date announced as to when classes will resume.
Power still out across much of Florida
More than 5.5 million homes and businesses in Florida remained without power at midday Tuesday after Hurricane Irma plowed through the state.
Food, water and gas deliveries were starting to return in Central and South Florida as the demand swells from returning evacuees. Airports started to provide limited operations. And the process of allowing people to return to homes was underway in most areas outside the storm-ravaged lower Florida Keys.
Irma is expected to cost the state and federal government billions of dollars.
Meanwhile, Florida Power & Light spokesman Rob Gould asked customers on Tuesday to be patient as they wait for restoration of electricity.
"We understand what it means to be in the dark. We understand what it means to be hot and without air conditioning," Gould said. "We are out there 24-7. This will not be just a daylight operation. We will be restoring power day and night."
The company, with more than 20,000 restoration workers, anticipates getting power back by the end of the weekend to most of its customers in the eastern parts of Florida.
A deadline of Sept. 22 has been set for restoring power to customers in the company's western counties, which include all or parts of Manatee, Hardee, Sarasota, DeSoto, Charlotte, Lee, Hendry, Collier and Monroe.
The timelines don't include homes and areas that were completely destroyed by the storm, Gould noted.
Juno Beach-based FPL reported 2.8 million of its nearly 5 million homes and businesses were still without power on Tuesday.
St. Petersburg-based Duke Energy Florida had 1.27 million of its 1.8 million accounts in the dark on Tuesday. And Tampa Electric still had to reconnect 300,000 of its 750,000 accounts on Tuesday.
"Restoration will take days -- but, thankfully, not weeks," Tampa Electric president and CEO Gordon Gillette said in a prepared statement.
Tampa Electric said power had already been restored to about 20 percent of its customers who had been impacted.
Statewide, electricity has been restored to more than 1 million homes and businesses as the broader recovery process got underway from Irma, which hit the Keys and Southwest Florida on Sunday, and traveled up the state before exiting North Florida on Monday.
"What you're going to see today all around the state, is you're going to see more resources," Gov. Rick Scott said Tuesday morning while at Jacksonville International Airport. "This impacted the whole state, so it's hard to pre-position all the assets you'd want to position if the storm just came from one coast or the other. But even with that, I think the number is over 30,000 individuals from out of state are helping us get our power on."
Scott had earlier in the day taken an aerial tour of Jacksonville with the Florida National Guard. The U.S. Coast Guard had provided Scott with a similar view of Key West on Monday.
Damage assessment continues in the Florida Keys, where engineers are determining if bridges can handle the weight of returning vehicles. Water and sanitation also remain issues, Scott said.
Problems in Jacksonville stem from flash flooding from the St. Johns River. The U.S. Coast Guard reported rescuing more than 100 people Monday in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, who put the number that needed rescuing from floodwaters at around 300 on Tuesday, expressed some frustration about people not heeding evacuation warnings.
"It would have been nice if there weren't people in the areas that were affected by the surge, but the first responders just stepped right up and did their jobs," Curry said.
Curry said he would have evacuated if he wasn't the city's mayor.
"We're not trying to be difficult. We're not trying to make people's lives inconvenient," Curry added. "I think the governor said it best leading up to this, evacuations are not about convenience, they're about safety."
The Florida National Guard said it currently has more than 8,000 soldiers and airmen conducting search and rescue operations, recovery operations, supply distribution points and shelter management operations throughout the state in support of local and state agencies.
More than 11,000 guardsmen from other states are assisting in support of recovery operations throughout the state, the Florida National Guard said.
"The next days and weeks will no doubt be trying and exhausting as we begin to rebuild. But no matter what this storm has brought, know that you are not alone," said Maj. Gen. Michael Calhoun, the adjutant general of Florida.
Florida National Guard soldiers and airmen are helping at more than 250 shelters statewide, and will continue to assist wherever needed and requested by the counties, the Florida National Guard said.
Sen. Bill Nelson sent a letter Tuesday to Internal Revenue Service Commissioner John Koskinen. Nelson said in the letter, "We must now begin the road to recovery."
"As we do, I ask that you use all means within your authority to provide appropriate administrative relief to taxpayers affected by the storm, including a delay in quarterly estimated payments, a delay in tax filing deadlines and a moratorium on private debt collection proceedings," Nelson said in the letter. "Now is not the time to add unnecessary stress to Floridians trying to put their lives back together. It's important that all of us work together to provide needed relief to folks most in need."
Search and rescue operations continued in the Keys and Southwest Florida. Among other developments Tuesday:
- More than 94,000 people remained in about 400 shelters still in use across Florida.
- The Herbert Hoover Dike around Lake Okeechobee remained safe, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
- The Florida Highway Patrol was escorting 44 tractor-trailers with relief supplies and 600 utility trucks into Southwest Florida.
- Port Tampa, Port Everglades and Port Canaveral reopened for fuel trucks.
- Florida reopened 20 state parks in the Panhandle, but 147 others throughout the peninsula remained closed Tuesday morning.
- Lakeland-based Publix reported 22 of its 776 stores in Florida remained closed on Tuesday.
USDA reminding those impacted about disaster assistance programs
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is reminding rural communities, farmers and ranchers, families and small businesses impacted Hurricane Irma that it has programs that provide assistance in the wake of disasters.
"In recent weeks, millions of Americans have been affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and the wild fires in the west," Secretary Perdue said. "USDA employees have been working tirelessly and will continue to stand ready to help those in need. As we head down the path to recovery, I am encouraged by the resilience of America's farmers, ranchers and the American people as a whole that we can come together and get through this trying time."
The USDA said it partnered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other disaster-focused organizations to create the Disaster Resource Center website, utilizing a searchable knowledgebase of disaster-related resources that are powered by agents with subject-matter expertise.
20 Florida state parks reopen after Irma; 147 state parks remain closed
The Department of Environmental Protection's Florida Park Service announced Tuesday that 20 state parks have reopened following Hurricane Irma. Officials said 147 state parks remain closed due to weather conditions and to ensure visitor safety.
The following state parks have reopened for day use only:
-Bald Point State Park (Franklin County)
-Camp Helen State Park (Bay County)
-Constitution Convention Museum State Park (Gulf County)
-Deer Lake State Park (Walton County)
-Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park (Franklin County)
-Eden Gardens State Park (Walton County)
-Falling Waters State Park (Washington County)
-Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park (Okaloosa County)
-Grayton Beach State Park (Walton County)
-Henderson Beach State Park (Okaloosa County)
-Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park (Leon County)
-Lake Talquin State Park (Leon, Liberty and Gadsden counties)
-Letchworth-Love Mounds Archaeological State Park (Jefferson County)
-Natural Bridge Battlefield Historic State Park (Leon County)
-Ochlockonee River State Park (Wakulla County)
-Orman House Historic State Park (Franklin County)
-Ponce de Leon Springs State Park (Holmes and Walton counties)
-St. Andrews State Park (Bay County)
-St. Marks River Preserve State Park (Leon and Jefferson counties)
-Torreya State Park (Liberty and Gadsden counties)
Officials said the following state parks are closed until further notice:
-Addison Blockhouse Historic State Park (Volusia County)
-Alafia River State Park (Hillsborough County)
-Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park (Leon County)
-Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State Park (Polk County)
-Amelia Island State Park (Nassau County)
-Anastasia State Park (St. Johns County)
-Anclote Key Preserve State Park (Pinellas and Pasco counties)
-Atlantic Ridge Preserve State Park (Martin County)
-Avalon State Park (St. Lucie County)
-Bahia Honda State Park (Monroe County)
-Big Shoals State Park (Hamilton and Columbia counties)
-Big Talbot Island State Park (Duval County)
-Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park (Dade County)
-Blue Spring State Park (Volusia County)
-Bulow Creek State Park (Flagler and Volusia counties)
-Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park (Flagler County)
-Caladesi Island State Park (Pinellas County)
-Cayo Costa State Park (Lee County)
-Cedar Key Museum State Park (Levy County)
-Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve (Levy County)
-Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park (Lee and Charlotte counties)
-Cockroach Bay Preserve State Park (Hillsborough County)
-Collier-Seminole State Park (Collier County)
-Colt Creek State Park (Polk County)
-Crystal River Archaeological State Park (Citrus County)
-Crystal River Preserve State Park (Citrus County)
-Curry Hammock State Park (Monroe County)
-Dade Battlefield Historic State Park (Sumter County)
-Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park (Monroe County)
-De Leon Springs State Park (Volusia County)
-Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park (Collier County)
-Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park (Alachua County)
-Don Pedro Island State Park (Charlotte County)
-Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park (Broward County)
-Dudley Farm Historic State Park (Alachua County)
-Dunns Creek State Park (Putnam County)
-Econfina River State Park (Taylor County)
-Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park (Wakulla County)
-Egmont Key State Park (Hillsborough County)
-Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park (Citrus County)
-Estero Bay Preserve State Park (Lee County)
-Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park (Collier County)
-Fanning Springs State Park (Levy County)
-Faver-Dykes State Park (St. Johns County)
-Fernandina Plaza Historic State Park (Nassau County)
-Florida Caverns State Park (Jackson County)
-Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail (Monroe County)
-Forest Capital Museum State Park (Taylor County)
-Fort Clinch State Park (Nassau County)
-Fort Cooper State Park (Citrus County)
-Fort George Island Cultural State Park (Duval County)
-Fort Mose Historic State Park (St. Johns County)
-Fort Pierce Inlet State Park (St. Lucie County)
-Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park (Monroe County)
-Gainesville-to-Hawthorne State Trail (Alachua County)
-Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area at Flagler Beach (Flagler County)
-Gasparilla Island State Park (Lee County)
-General James A. Van Fleet State Trail (Sumter, Lake and Polk counties)
-George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier State Park (Nassau and Duval counties)
-Haw Creek Preserve State Park (Flagler, Volusia and Putnam counties)
-Highlands Hammock State Park (Highlands and Hardee counties)
-Hillsborough River State Park (Hillsborough County)
-Honeymoon Island State Park (Pinellas County)
-Hontoon Island State Park (Volusia and Lake counties)
-Hugh Taylor Birch State Park (Broward County)
-Ichetucknee Springs State Park (Columbia and Suwannee counties)
-Ichetucknee Trace (Columbia County)
-Indian Key Historic State Park (Monroe County)
-Indian River Lagoon Preserve State Park (Brevard County)
-John D. MacArthur Beach State Park (Palm Beach County)
-John Gorrie Museum State Park (Franklin County)
-John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park (Monroe County)
-Jonathan Dickinson State Park (Martin and Palm Beach counties)
-Judah P. Benjamin Confederate Memorial at Gamble Plantation Historic State Park (Manatee County)
-Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park (Okeechobee and Osceola counties)
-Koreshan State Historic Site (Lee County)
-Lafayette Blue Springs State Park (Lafayette County)
-Lake Griffin State Park (Lake County)
-Lake June-in-Winter Scrub State Park (Highlands County)
-Lake Kissimmee State Park (Polk and Osceola counties)
-Lake Louisa State Park (Lake County)
-Lake Manatee State Park (Manatee County)
-Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park (Monroe County)
-Little Manatee River State Park (Hillsborough County)
-Little Talbot Island State Park (Duval County)
-Long Key State Park (Monroe County)
-Lovers Key State Park (Lee County)
-Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park (Lake and Seminole counties)
-Madira Bickel Mound State Archaeological Site (Manatee County)
-Madison Blue Spring State Park (Madison County)
-Manatee Springs State Park (Levy County)
-Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway (Citrus, Levy, Marion and Putnam counties)
-Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park (Alachua County)
-Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park (Clay County)
-Mound Key Archaeological State Park (Lee County)
-Myakka River State Park (Manatee and Sarasota counties)
-Nature Coast State Trail (Dixie, Gilchrist and Levy counties)
-North Peninsula State Park (Volusia County)
-Okeechobee Battlefield Historic State Park (Okeechobee County)
-O'Leno State Park (Alachua and Columbia counties)
-Oleta River State Park (Dade County)
-Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park (Baker County)
-Oscar Scherer State Park (Sarasota County)
-Palatka-to-Lake Butler State Trail (Bradford, Clay, Putnam and Union counties)
-Palatka-to-St. Augustine State Trail (St. Johns County)
-Paynes Creek Historic State Park (Hardee County)
-Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park (Alachua County)
-Price's Scrub (Marion County)
-Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park (Duval County)
-Rainbow Springs State Park (Marion County)
-Ravine Gardens State Park (Putnam County)
-River Rise Preserve State Park (Alachua and Columbia counties)
-Rock Springs Run State Reserve (Orange, Lake and Seminole counties)
-San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park (Alachua County)
-San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park (Wakulla County)
-San Pedro Underwater Archaeological Preserve State Park (Monroe County)
-Savannas Preserve State Park (St. Lucie County)
-Seabranch Preserve State Park (Martin County)
-Sebastian Inlet State Park (Brevard and Indian River counties)
-Silver Springs State Park (Marion County)
-Skyway Fishing Pier State Park (Pinellas, Hillsborough and Manatee counties)
-South Fork State Park (Manatee County)
-St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park (Martin County)
-St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park (Brevard and Indian River counties)
-Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park (Hamilton and Columbia counties)
-Stump Pass Beach State Park (Charlotte County)
-Suwannee River State Park (Hamilton, Madison and Suwannee counties)
-Suwannee River Wilderness Trail (Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette and Suwannee counties)
-T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park (Gulf County)
-Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail (Leon and Wakulla counties)
-Terra Ceia Preserve State Park (Manatee County)
-The Barnacle Historic State Park (Dade County)
-Three Rivers State Park (Jackson County)
-Tomoka State Park (Volusia County)
-Troy Spring State Park (Lafayette County)
-Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park (Levy County)
-Washington Oaks Gardens State Park (Flagler County)
-Weeki Wachee Springs State Park (Hernando County)
-Wekiwa Springs State Park (Seminole, Orange and Lake counties)
-Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park (Pasco County)
-Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park (Suwannee County)
-Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park (Monroe County)
-Wingate Creek State Park (Manatee County)
-Withlacoochee State Trail (Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties)
-Ybor City Museum State Park (Hillsborough County)
-Yellow Bluff Fort Historic State Park (Duval County)
-Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park (Citrus County)
All other Florida State Parks remain open at this time. Officials said visitor safety is paramount in the decision to close and open Florida State Parks during times of severe weather.
Visit floridastateparks.org and the Florida State Parks Facebook page for updated information.