PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — As Hurricane Helene recovery efforts continue across several states, Gov. Ron DeSantis visited Pasco County on Sunday to share the latest update on resources in Florida and plans to share some of the state’s resources with other neighboring states hit hard.

He also mentioned a new operation to help Floridians stuck in North Carolina due to Helene.

What You Need To Know

  • Gov. Ron DeSantis shared a few different resources available right now for Floridians hit hard by Helene

  • The Coast Guard is running more than 30 distribution centers across the state that are providing food and water

  • Operation Blue Ridge will help Floridians who are still in North Carolina with no way out

While touring Hudson, DeSantis shared a few different resources available right now for Floridians hit hard by Helene, which made landfall last Thursday in the Big Bend area as a Category 4 hurricane.

FEMA is currently available for individual and public disaster relief assistance, along with travel trailers that will provide residents with major damage to their homes a place to live that can be placed on their property so they are close to their homes as renovations take place.

The Coast Guard is running more than 30 distribution centers across the state that are providing food and water, along with other supplies to people still dealing with Helene’s aftermath.

 

But an interesting takeaway from Sunday’s update includes the governor’s plans to send rescue operations crews to western North Carolina.  

 

"We're willing to mobilize resources to bring you to safety, it's a very difficult situation there and in parts of Tennessee as well, certainly western Carolina keep those folks in your thoughts and prayers and so we're sending some help- we stand by to do more as we have resources that are not being used for our recovery efforts here in the state of Florida," DeSantis said.

DeSantis said many people in western North Carolina are Florida residents and might be stuck in North Carolina due to the storm. Because no other rescue operations are needed here, the governor said he is sending air assistance to help with those efforts as part of Operation Blue Ridge.

“(DeSantis) is launching Operation Blue Ridge to assist Floridians seeking rescue in Western North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Tennessee Valley. These individuals can fill out our assistance form at FloridaDisaster.org/OperationBlueRidge,” stated a press release from the governor’s office.

“Just like we did with Israel, just like we did with Haiti, we’re willing to mobilize resources to bring you to safety,” DeSantis said.

With all of these resources being made available, officials are warning of the potential of scammers trying to take advantage of people being in a very vulnerable state right now and needing help.

Officials say do not fall victim to property scams by signing anything, noting that you do not have to sign anything to start a claim.