TAMPA, Fla. (WTXL) - Gov. Rick Scott has taken steps to better coordinate services for the displaced Puerto Rican families who have come to Florida after Hurricane Maria.
On Thursday, Scott directed the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) to activate the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) to Level 2. This means the State Emergency Response Team has activated, enhancing coordination between federal, state and local emergency management agencies.
The activation is in response to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offering Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) to Puerto Rican families in Florida displaced by Hurricane Maria.
Since Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, Scott said, more than 140,000 Puerto Ricans have arrived in Florida
The activation will help in the delivery of resources at Florida's Disaster Relief Centers at Miami and Orlando international airports, he said. Those places are preparing to assist more families with crisis counseling, educational resources, job placement services, medical services and help getting housing and drivers licenses.
FEMA will use federal funds to pay for all TSA expenses and costs, he said.
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