Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced executive actions aimed at speeding up Hurricane Helene recovery efforts during a visit to Anna Maria Island on Thursday, also the first day that locals could return to the city of Bradenton Beach with a vehicle to begin cleanup .
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the executive actions at a stop in front of the Rod & Reel Pier in the city of Anna Maria. They include temporarily lifting time restrictions imposed by municipalities on vacation rentals to ensure that Florida residents impacted by Helene can use available rental properties for temporary housing.
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“We understand that housing is a challenge,” DeSantis said. "If you had four feet of water in your house, even if it's not a total loss you have to gut that drywall, muck and gut, and there's a rehab process... This will help provide immediate housing that will last for 30 days or more for those who need it but also cover those who need less than 30 days, and this is all counties that were declared under a state of emergency."
DeSantis also addressed an ongoing strike among port workers in many Gulf and East Coast seaports. He encouraged companies looking for open ports to dock to conduct business through SeaPort Manatee and other open Florida ports. He announced steps taken to address supply concerns during Helene recovery efforts.
DeSantis establishes three executive orders in response to Helene
DeSantis announced three executive actions on Thursday while standing in front of the destroyed Rod & Reel Pier in the city of Anna Maria.
The first superseded any local regulations on vacation rentals that establish a minimum or maximum length of stay, but only within counties impacted by Helene.
The governor also authorized supervisors of elections in Charlotte, Dixie, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, and Taylor to make accommodations necessary "to ensure that people are going to be able to vote regardless of this storm."
"We obviously are continuing with voter security efforts, none of those are being lifted, but if there is a polling place that's been destroyed you have the ability to set up a different site, proper notice and follow all the rest of state law," he said.
Thirdly, DeSantis established an executive order deploying the Florida State Guard to ports affected by the ongoing port worker strike, both to maintain order and potentially resume operations. He said the effort is part of the state's effort to facilitate access to supplies needed by residents to recover from Hurricane Helene during the strike.
About 41% of businesses at two out of five terminals in Port Everglades will be impacted by the strike, about 50% of the cargo capacity at three terminals in Port Miami, and about one-third of commerce in Jacksonville including international container and vehicle volumes will be impacted, DeSantis said.
"This has the potential of really disrupting the hurricane recovery and of hurting people who are victims of the storm," DeSantis said. "What is going on in this work stoppage will negatively impact the distribution of cargo, and that will include perishable foods, medical equipment, home goods, electronics, machinery, apparel, vehicles, vehicle parts, lumber, steel as well as other essential construction and hurricane supplies."
The governor directed the Florida Department of Transportation to waive collection of tolls and other fees for commercial vehicles and waive size and weight restrictions normally governing vehicle transportation for the duration of the Helene state of emergency to expedite the movement of goods.
"We need to get this stuff here as soon as possible so that people can get back on their feet," he said.
Other efforts include access to a pool of $15 million for zero-interest emergency bridge loans of up to $50,000 available to impacted businesses and temporary suspension on government restrictions that would prevent restaurants from establishing a food truck or other means to earn revenue while recovery is ongoing.
City of Bradenton Beach re-opens to residents and business owners
Road infrastructure in Bradenton Beach suffered heavy damage during Hurricane Helene, impeding resident access to the city until Thursday morning.
Crews contracted by the Florida Department of Transportation completed installation of a temporary roadway to replace Gulf of Mexico Drive, and most of the city's side streets.
"On Monday night, really just a couple of days after launching the repairs, the entire 16-mile stretch of emergency repairs was completed," DeSantis said.
Bradenton Beach approves temporary moratorium on vacation rentals
The city of Bradenton Beach approved a 45-day moratorium on vacation rentals in response to rental companies with properties located in active disaster recovery areas refusing to offer refunds to tourists in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
City officials unanimously approved a temporary moratorium to restrict vacation rentals for 45 days, indicating that City Council will consider extending the moratorium or ending it early at about the 30-day mark.
Officials said an official moratorium could help tourists trapped in contracts with rental companies that refuse to offer refunds the ability to apply for travel insurance or other forms of reprieve.
Holmes Beach Police Chief William Tokajer said the decision was necessary to ensure safety for residents, disaster recovery workers, and tourists themselves as conditions on Anna Maria Island remain dangerous for recreation.
"The residents want the curfew, the residents want the moratorium," Tokajer said. "We do not need kids on vacation walking through our debris or between haulers and crews. We are nowhere near ready to be open for tourism."
In case you missed it: Beaches remain closed. Visitors advised to rethink trips to Sarasota or Manatee beaches
DeSantis said his new executive order lifting time restrictions on vacation rentals applies to all municipalities impacted by Helene, including Holmes Beach, but said cities do have some leeway in Florida law for temporary maneuvers. He indicated he was not familiar with the Holmes Beach ordinance.
"My view would be that there is still a lot of good stuff, we want the economy to get back going, we want people to be able to come," DeSantis said. "There may be some areas where it may be a little bit more challenging, but the goal needs to get people back up and get the tourism flowing again."
"This is a beautiful part of the state of Florida, so we want our restaurants back, but there are local issues with that and I think they can work out however they see fit but the state of Florida is open for business," he said.
The City of Anna Maria, located north of Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island, considered a similar moratorium on Tuesday but city officials voted against it. The city continues to encourage visitors and tourists to rethink plans and advises that Anna Maria city beaches are also unsafe. The city of Bradenton Beach on the south side of AMI has not considered a moratorium but is currently only open to residents and local business owners.
Beaches in Sarasota County and the city of Sarasota are also closed to the public, and no timeline has been for re-opening to the public has been announced.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: DeSantis announces executive actions related to Helene during stop on Anna Maria Island
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