Washington — The mayor of Fort Myers, Florida, one of many areas hit the toughest by Hurricane Ian final week, defended the timing of evacuation orders given by Lee County officers because the storm neared the southwestern area of the state, saying they "acted appropriately."
"Warnings for hurricane season begin in June. And so there is a diploma of non-public accountability right here," Mayor Kevin Anderson stated in an interview with "Face the Nation." "I feel the county acted appropriately. The factor is that a sure share of individuals won't heed the warnings regardless."
Lee County officers issued their first obligatory evacuation orders on Tuesday morning, lower than 24 hours earlier than Hurricane Ian made landfall as a Class 4 in southwest Florida. The orders additionally got here after calls from neighboring counties for his or her residents to go away Monday forward of the approaching storm.
Hurricane Ian devastated the area, and CBS Information discovered the variety of deaths immediately or not directly attributed to the hurricane to be not less than 73 in Florida. Of these, 35 had been in Lee County and 23 had been in Charlotte County. As of Saturday morning, officers with the U.S. Coast Guard and Federal Emergency Administration Company (FEMA) stated roughly 4,000 individuals have been rescued in Florida.
Anderson stated in Fort Myers, crews are working 16 hours per day to revive electrical energy and water to properties and companies within the space.
"Most of our harm was proper alongside the river, and it was attributable to flooding. I used to be in one of many worst hit areas yesterday within the east facet of city," Anderson stated. "You may see the newer homes are intact, they usually're fantastic. However the older properties which had been constructed decrease, and less than the present codes, they suffered extra harm. So having stable good constructing codes is a key to this subject."
Deanne Criswell, administrator of FEMA, stated the company's focus is on serving to these in Florida which have felt essentially the most vital impacts of the hurricane.
"Proper now, we have got a number of employees, we obtained a number of assets which can be embedded throughout the state in Florida ensuring that we're persevering with the primary precedence which is saving as many lives as doable and getting the quick help out to those who want it proper now essentially the most," she instructed "Face the Nation."
Criswell, who visited Florida on Friday and Saturday, stated she noticed the attain of the devastation from the storm, with many properties "utterly destroyed."
"We're going to be sure that we're getting the suitable individuals in there to assist present the momentary assist proper now, however the long run wants to assist these communities get well," she stated.
She stated the company, which administers reduction to these affected, can be going to work with companions such because the Small Enterprise Administration and Division of Housing and City Growth to assist assist households and communities.
"We'll work collectively on what these unmet wants are and what their long-term wants are, and ensure we're offering the assets and the assist to these communities, momentary after which long-term to get these communities again on their ft whereas they're rebuilding," Criswell stated.
Sen. Rick Scott, a Republican from Florida, instructed "Face the Nation" that when he labored with FEMA as governor, the company was a "good companion." However Congress, too, might have to supply emergency reduction to assist the state get well.
"We have made commitments, and we will assist our households, our companies, our states and native governments, and because the federal authorities, we have to do our job," he stated. "Now, we obtained to observe how we spend our cash. So all the time strive to determine the way you pay for issues."
Scott famous that within the wake of Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and whereas he was serving as governor from 2011 to 2019, the state up to date its constructing codes to cut back the danger of injury from hurricanes. After this, he stated, "we will be taught that we will you understand, should proceed to enhance our constructing codes."
Criswell, too, stated that for individuals who misplaced their properties within the storm, they should perceive the dangers as they start to make choices about rebuilding."
"We have to be sure that we've got sturdy constructing codes as a result of we've got dangers throughout, we have seen harm inland within the state, and we have to have constructing codes that may be sure that our properties can face up to the impacts that we're seeing from these extreme climate occasions," she stated.