Fill out this form to email this article to a friend
Storm response budget proposed
Associated Press
Published January 7, 2006
ORLANDO - Gov. Jeb Bush outlined a $565-million plan Friday that he said will help the state prepare for hurricanes and their aftermaths. It includes an education program aimed at making residents more self-reliant.
With eight major hurricanes striking or affecting Florida in the past two years and some more turbulent years predicted, Bush said it is vital for the state's economy to develop a "culture of preparedness" to deal with the inevitable devastation.
The governor encouraged Floridians to take responsibility for their own hurricane preparations and to rely less on state and local governments.
The proposal, which would be funded by the state and federal governments, would raise public awareness about early preparation, continue sales tax holidays on hurricane supplies and strengthen older homes to better withstand hurricane-force winds.
An estimated 67,000 homes, most of which were built under old building codes, were destroyed during the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons. Bush's recovery budget recommends $177-million for rental recovery, $98-million for a local hurricane housing recovery program, and $25-million for farmworker housing.
He also urged the state to adopt a uniform building code.
The Panhandle is the only area exempt from the state's current building code. The results of a Florida Building Commission study will be presented in the 2006 Legislature with a recommendation whether the Panhandle should be included.
The governor's plan would also use funds to assist residents during the initial response, when preventing or repairing power outages is often a matter of life and death for the elderly.
His strategy includes funds to build shelters to house an additional 100,000 people, to install permanent generators in special needs shelters and to expand and strengthen county emergency operations centers. He proposes a partnership with businesses like Publix, Target and Lowe's to help distribute supplies more quickly.
The governor also recommended more than $30-million to better equip first responders with training programs and new technology designed to improve their understanding of storm surge.
He said Florida taxpayers won't foot the bill for this hefty proposal. The state's coffers are overflowing and the proposal would be funded by recurring money, he said.
[Last modified January 7, 2006, 01:09:14]
Share your thoughts on this story
|
News
Fifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.
Print
Email story
Comment
Email editor
