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Gov. DeSantis holds news conferences along Gulf coast

FHP personnel, National Guardsmen headed to US-Mexico border, governor says

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks in Pensacola on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.)

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held two news conferences Friday along the state’s Gulf coast.

During the first — at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Pensacola Regional Operations Center — DeSantis announced 76 FHP personnel and 50 National Guardsmen would be deployed within the day to the U.S.-Mexico border.

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“National Guardsmen will be leaving tonight from Plant City, the highway patrol is going to be leaving out of here momentarily,” DeSantis said Friday morning. “...You have some of these guys that have been on multiple deployments down to the border already just over the last couple of years and they’re going more and I think right now you probably have more folks there from a variety of states than we’ve had throughout this whole time. So, thank you for what you’re doing, we appreciate it very much and the state of Florida will continue to step up where the federal government fails.”

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Watch the Pensacola news conference again in the video player below:

Next, the governor was at the Cedar Key Community Center with Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly, state Sen. Keith Perry, R-District 8, and state Rep. Chuck Clemons, R-District 22.

The second news conference was held to announce disbursements largely for Hurricane Idalia recovery projects.

“There are more than 230 aquaculture businesses in Citrus, Dixie and Levy counties that maintain active leases with the state and about half of those active leases support the production of clams. It’s estimated that the aquaculture industry experienced a loss in excess of $34 million due to Hurricane Idalia. Now, this region makes its living on the water, we’re dedicated to using the tools available to us to reinvigorate and sustain these vital industries and this unique way of life,” DeSantis said.

In addition to another $1 million from the Florida Disaster Fund meant to expedite the state commerce department’s Hurricane Idalia home repair program, $2.5 million was awarded Friday to rehabilitate 17 lift stations in Cedar Key.

Watch the Cedar Key news conference again in the video player below:


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