IT WAS A CATEGORY 4 STORM.
WE PREPARED FOR IT. WE HAD TENS OF THOUSANDS OF UTILITY WORKERS READY TO GO AND POWER RESTORATIONS IN RECORD TIME AFTER A MAJOR HURRICANE. BUT WE ALSO BETWEEN STATE AND LOCAL CONDUCTED THOUSANDS OF RESCUE MISSIONS AS SOON AS THE STORM HAPPENED.
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BUT THE LESSON THAT I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD TAKE FROM THIS WE LEARNED IN FLORIDA LONG AGO, WE DON'T RELY ON FEMA TO DO ANY OF THAT TYPE OF ACTIVITY.
WE RELY ON FEMA TO BASICALLY BE A BANK ACCOUNT.
THERE IS FEDERAL PROGRAMS IN PLACE. WE GET OUR PEOPLE QUALIFIED FOR INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE, REIMBURSEMENT FOR SOME OF THE DEBRIS. BUT WE TAKE THE MATTERS INTO OUR OWN HANDS FOR THE PREPARATION AND THE RESCUE AND RESPONSE
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THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY IS NOT GOING TO DO THE TRICK IN THESE SITUATIONS. SO WE WERE ABLE TO DO IT.
INTERESTING IN FLORIDA, WE CONDUCTED THOUSANDS OF RESCUE MISSIONS AS SOON AS THE STORM HIT. MOST -- A LOT OF IT LOCAL. SOME JOINT, STATE AND LOCAL AND OTHER STATE. ALL THOSE MISSIONS WERE SUCCESSFUL. WE DID HAVE FATALITIES BUT THE PEOPLE THAT WERE IN DIRE STRAITS THAT NEEDED HELP GOT RESCUED AND BROUGHT TO SAFETY.
THAT IS THE WAY IT'S DONE.