Today, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Orders 24-212 and 24-213. Additionally, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) was directed to issue Order 2024-09. Executive Order 24-213 includes directives for the Florida National Guard, Florida State Guard, Department of Transportation, and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to take actions to mitigate potential disruptions caused by ongoing port strikes affecting the supply chain and recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene. Meanwhile, Executive Order 24-212 focuses on ensuring that election activities are not disrupted by the hurricane. DBPR Order 2024-9 addresses easing rental length restrictions for individuals who lost their homes due to Hurricane Helene.
Governor DeSantis previously declared a state of emergency across multiple counties in response to Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine. The recent rejection by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) of a contract offer led to a strike impacting seaports along the East and Gulf Coasts, further complicating recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene in Florida.
The governor emphasized that these port disruptions could hinder supply chains crucial for rebuilding efforts following the hurricane. The affected ports include JAXPORT, Port Tampa Bay, Port Everglades, and PortMiami. Delays at these ports could lead to shortages in commodities such as construction materials and medical equipment.
In response to these challenges, Executive Order 24-213 calls for various measures including waiving tolls for commercial vehicles on certain highways, adjusting vehicle size and weight restrictions for transporting goods from seaports, managing traffic flow from impacted seaports with law enforcement assistance if necessary, and establishing a task force to study economic impacts from labor disruptions at seaports.
Additionally, there are directives to provide law enforcement escorts for commercial vehicles transporting essential goods and suspend certain registration requirements for motor carriers entering or operating within Florida during this emergency.
The order also allows withholding project approvals at non-compliant seaports regarding these provisions. These actions aim to alleviate immediate supply chain issues while maintaining readiness for future disruptions.