Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is taking a break from fighting President Joe Biden to ask for federal help. On Saturday, the Florida Governor (who is in Utah preparing to address that state’s Republican Convention) requested a major disaster declaration for Broward County. “If granted by the White House, a Major Disaster Declaration will provide a wide range of federal assistance programs for individuals and public infrastructure damaged by the floods,” in a media release from the Governor’s Office. Though DeSantis has been traveling for political purposes for most of the last week, staffers have been on the scene. The Associated Press has the story:
DeSantis asks Fed aid for Fort Lauderdale flood
Newslooks- FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP)
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Saturday that he will ask the Biden administration to declare Broward County a disaster area due to flooding earlier this month after record rainfall.
If granted, the declaration would make Broward residents who incurred damage to their homes and other property eligible for a wide range of loans and other assistance. Local governments would also be eligible.
More than 2 feet (0.6 meters) of rain fell in some parts of the county April 12. The 1-in-a-1,000-year deluge left some parts of the county with up to 3 feet (0.9 meters) of water. About 1,000 homes were severely damaged, according to the state.
The flooding also closed the airport for almost two days. Gas deliveries to the port were also slowed, causing long lines at the pump.
The Republican governor is expected to soon announce that he will seek his party’s nomination to challenge President Joe Biden in next year’s election.
While frequently sniping at each other, the Democratic president and the governor have seen their administrations work together after disasters. That includes last year’s Hurricane Ian, which killed more than 140 people and left thousands homeless, and the 2021 collapse of a condo tower in Surfside, which killed 98. ___
This version corrects that DeSantis said he will ask the Biden administration for disaster relief, not that he has formally asked.
