Florida Governor Ron DeSantis activated a massive emergency response Saturday morning, sending state crews to clear key roadways and restore power after Hurricane Isaias struck the Panhandle as a Category 2 storm. The governor said Florida had pre‑positioned about 16,000 utility workers before landfall to speed up recovery and reduce the risk of prolonged outages.
Early road‑clearing and power restoration
DeSantis told Fox & Friends Weekend that crews began working around 3:00 a.m., clearing Interstate 10 and other critical arteries while darkness still lingered. “We scrambled assets at 0300 for road clearing and also for search and rescue, should that have been needed. Fortunately, we have not gotten requests for our search and rescue assets. I think that’s cautiously a good sign,” he said.
He added that crews continued to work through the night, repairing bridges and restoring electricity to hundreds of thousands of customers. “I’d much rather have that than let the storm go by and say, ‘Oh, well, we need 10,000 linemen. Let’s see if they can get here by Monday morning,'” DeSantis said, emphasizing the advantage of pre‑deployment.
Comparisons to past storms
The governor noted that wind shear weakened Isaias before landfall, limiting structural damage compared with Hurricane Michael in 2018, which devastated the same region. “We look back at Katrina in New Orleans and stuff, it just descended into chaos,” DeSantis said, underscoring how Florida’s emergency procedures have improved since those historic events.
Safety warnings from former FEMA chief
Former FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate cautioned residents that hazards persist after the storm passes. He warned of carbon‑monoxide poisoning from improperly placed generators and electrocution from downed power lines. “We’ve seen people get injured from falls off ladders. We’ve seen carbon monoxide poisoning with people running their generators too close to their house. A lot of this can be prevented if people take their time,” Fugate said.
Governor’s praise for responders
DeSantis praised the state and local workers, calling them “the best in the business” and saying they would continue operating “around the clock” until conditions are stabilized. He highlighted the coordination between state agencies and county officials, noting the passion and dedication of those on the ground.
Impact and outlook
FOX Weather reported four storm‑related deaths across Florida and Alabama and wind gusts exceeding 110 mph, but said the pre‑storm conditions helped prevent a more catastrophic scenario along the Panhandle. While power outages remain widespread, the early deployment of utility crews is expected to shorten restoration times and reduce the likelihood of prolonged hardship for residents.
State officials continue to monitor the situation, urging citizens to stay alert for safety hazards and to follow official guidance as cleanup efforts proceed.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
