Gov. DeSantis gives updates on Florida’s Big Bend recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene

HORESHOE BEACH, Fla. – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held a news conference Tuesday at Horseshoe Beach, where he addressed the state’s recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene left an extensive path of destruction.

The news conference comes as communities along Florida’s Big Bend recover from severe damage caused by Helene.

DeSantis said over 49,000 Florida residents are without power, while over 2.3 million have had their power restored following Helene’s aftermath.

The Florida State Guard has mobilized 217 guards in response to Hurricane Helene, according to a news release from the governor’s office.

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He also sent first responders from Florida’s Department of Transportation to North Carolina and Tennessee to assist in roadway repairs.

DeSantis was joined by several government officials, including Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities Director Taylor Hatch, Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation Secretary Melanie Griffin, Florida Department of Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr., and Florida Commerce Secretary Alex Kelly.

DeSantis visited storm-ravaged communities along the Big Bend for the first time since Hurricane Helene struck, assessing the damage and addressing the needs of residents in Horseshoe Beach.

Days after the storm, locals like Jill Futch, who lost her home entirely, came to hear how the state plans to help.

“We lost our home completely, our home is gone,” Futch said.

DeSantis reassured residents that the Florida Division of Emergency Management is allocating temporary housing trailers to ensure those displaced don’t have to live far from their communities.

“The full-time residents need somewhere to stay, and not 40 miles away from here,” DeSantis said.

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State agencies were on-site, providing vital resources such as water, ice and tools. Still, some residents expressed frustration with the slow response.

The governor also stressed the importance of rebuilding under Florida code to ensure new structures can withstand future storms.

Members of Horseshoe Beach Baptist Church had only recently completed rebuilding after Hurricane Idalia, which hit just over a year ago.

DeSantis also confirmed that 100,000 first responders have been deployed and that the state is sending 36,000 boxes of water to Dixie County.

Additionally, the state has established a multi-agency resource center in Horseshoe Beach to assist their community.

DeSantis also mentioned that restaurants destroyed by the storm will be allowed to set up mobile food trucks to continue operations.

The Florida Department of Health has deployed over 100 emergency response vehicles, with units staged in Columbia and Taylor counties and tasked to assist in Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Lafayette, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Osceola, Suwannee and Taylor counties, according to the governor.

“We’re working with the Department of Emergency Management to provide travel trailers for people to live in while on their property,” he said.

DeSantis also confirmed the Agency for Persons with Disabilities is continuing its recovery efforts with post-storm wellness checks to clients, and families in affected areas verifying status and resolving immediate need requests.

DeSantis posted a video on his X account Tuesday, reminding residents that “Florida is mobilized and responding to help those who were impacted by Hurricane Helene.”

Local 10 News viewers can watch the news conference in the video below.