Day Three After Isaias: Over 70% of Florida Power Restored as State Opens $10 Million Business Loan Program (Follow-Up)
PENSACOLA, Fla. — Three days after Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin as a Category 2 storm on the night of Oct. 9, Florida's recovery is gaining ground. Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday, Oct. 12, that power had been restored to more than 70% of affected customer accounts, down from nearly 450,000 outages on Saturday morning, and Florida Power & Light expected most of its remaining customers back by Monday night, with the rest by Tuesday. At least two storm-related deaths were reported in Florida, and more than 140,000 customers statewide were still without power.
The state announced new recovery resources Monday, including $10 million in interest-free emergency business loans and nine Points of Distribution across Escambia, Santa Rosa, Walton and Washington counties providing free bottled water, shelf-stable food and essential supplies. Walmart and the Walmart Foundation committed $1 million in funding and supplies, offering free hot meals, mobile showers, laundry services, Wi-Fi and charging at Panhandle locations.
Challenges persist: flooding along the Shoal River continues, with Florida State Guard amphibious teams assisting residents, and boil-water notices remain in effect in parts of seven counties. Three drinking-water facilities and two wastewater facilities remain nonoperational. DeSantis also directed Northwest Florida schools to reopen Wednesday, Oct. 14; several Santa Rosa County campuses were damaged, including Milton High School, whose gymnasium roof was partially torn off.
Source: Governor's Office recovery update (via Flagler News Weekly), FOX 49, Pensacola News Journal (via Flagler News Weekly)
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 佛罗里达州旧议会大厦（塔拉哈西），CC BY-SA 4.0，摄影：DXR（Wikimedia Commons）
