Nearly 440,000 Floridians Without Power as Hurricane Isaias Raises Serious Questions About DeSantis Administration's Disaster Preparedness

FLORIDA — As Hurricane Isaias batters Florida, nearly 440,000 residents are reportedly without power, exposing vulnerabilities in the state's infrastructure and raising urgent questions about disaster preparedness, emergency response and recovery. Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) must demonstrate that years of emergency planning and state investments are translating into real protection for Florida families, not simply press conferences and promises.

The following statement can be attributed to Chanae Jackson, Organizing Director, Florida for All:

“Hurricane Isaias is exposing the consequences of Florida's longstanding failure to confront its growing disaster vulnerabilities. Nearly 440,000 Floridians are without power, while families facing dangerous flooding, destructive winds and the prospect of losing everything are also confronting an insurance crisis, vulnerable infrastructure and a recovery system that too often leaves survivors fighting for help.

“Governor DeSantis has a fundamental responsibility to prepare communities, protect families and ensure that help reaches survivors when they need it most. Emergency declarations and press conferences are not a substitute for investments in FDEM, resilient infrastructure, effective disaster planning and a recovery system that actually works for the people who depend on it.

“Floridians deserve answers. What has the state done to strengthen communities against increasingly destructive storms? Has FDEM received the resources they need to respond effectively, and will families receive the assistance they need to recover? DeSantis and his administration must be held accountable not just for how they respond while the cameras are rolling, but for whether Floridians are left in the dark, left waiting for help and ultimately left to rebuild on their own.”

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