President Trump approves major disaster declaration for Florida after Hurricane Isaias

THE TAKEAWAY

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Weeks after Hurricane Isaias battered Florida, communities continued to reel from the storm’s crippling impacts as President Donald J. Trump approved federal disaster assistance to support recovery efforts.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal public assistance funding is available to support emergency work and repairs to infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Isaias in Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton and Washington counties.

President Trump announced the approval of Florida’s newest major disaster declaration on Oct. 27, nearly three weeks after Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin on Oct. 9 as a Category 2 storm, bringing destructive winds and widespread damage to the Florida Panhandle.

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The approval expanded federal assistance for recovery efforts after an initial emergency declaration was issued on Oct. 9.

Unlike the initial emergency declaration, which primarily covered immediate response and protective measures, the major disaster declaration expands federal assistance to include longer-term recovery and repairs to storm-damaged public infrastructure in 15 counties.

The storm's impacts continued well inland, dealing dangerous impacts across the Southeast — with Florida bearing the worst the storm had to offer.

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Widespread power outages were reported after the storm’s landfall, with more than 400,000 customers losing power across Florida alone at one point.

Dangerous winds toppled trees and power lines, while coastal flooding caused significant damage in impacted areas.

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After the storm’s immediate impacts subsided, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that six storm-related deaths had been reported.

But in some hard-hit communities, the devastation lingered for weeks.

FOX Weather Senior Field Correspondent Robert Ray visited Milton, Florida, on Oct. 27 — before the emergency declaration — where he spoke with City Manager Ed Spears about the storm’s lasting impact.

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"A lot of the resources are starting to dry up and go away. We’re still here, knee-deep in it every day," Spears told FOX Weather, estimating that 400,000 to 500,000 cubic yards of debris remained on the ground in Milton awaiting removal.

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For communities such as Milton, the road to recovery is continuing weeks after the storm, though the new declaration could help local officials and nonprofits clear debris, make repairs and rebuild after Hurricane Isaias.