STATE OF.FLORIDA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOREXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 24-156(Emergency Management-Invest 97L)
WHEREAS, as of 12:00 PM EDT on August 1, 2024, a tropical wave, now identified asInvest 97L, is producing a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms over Hispaniola,
Puerto Rico and'the Virgin Islands; andWHEREAS, based on meteorological reports, highly conduciv~ environmental conditions

are forecast to organize and develop Invest 97L into a tropical depression over the weekend andearly next week over the eastern Gulf of Mexico near the Florida Peninsula; andWHEREAS, based on meteorological reports, there is significant threat of heavy rainfall

over most of the State of Florida, with the possibility of at least twelve (12) inches of rainfall overthe next seven (7) days; andWHEREAS, prolonged heavy rainfall will result in flash flooding, river flooding, coastal

flooding, erosion, and gusty winds; andWHEREAS, these conditions could damage the operational capability of criticalinfrastructure to include major interstates and roadways, bridges, airports, schools, hospitals,power grids, and other critical infrastructure; andWHEREAS, the water tables in the affected areas are already nearing peak capacity andincoming heavy rainfall will cause significant river flooding that may last for several weeks; andWHEREAS, the incoming heavy rainfall, flooding, and gusty winds will cause widespread

power outages due to downed trees and powerlines; andWHEREAS, as Governor of Florida, I am responsible to meet the dangers presented to theState of Florida and its people by this emergency.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RON DESANTIS, as Governor of Florida, by virtue of theauthority vested in me by Article IV, Section l(a) of the Florida Constitution and by the Florida
Emergency Management Act, as amended, and all other applicable laws, promulgate the following
Executive Order, to take immediate effect:
Section 1. Because of the foregoing conditions, which are projected to constitute a majordisaster, I declare that a state of emergency exists in Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Calhoun,Charlotte; Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, Dixie, ·Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden;
Gi'Ichrist, Gulf,'.Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake,. Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Orange,Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter,Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington counties.
Section 2. I designate the Executive Director of the Division of Emergency Management('"Director") as the State Coordinating Officer for the duration of this emergency and direct him toexecute the State's Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan and other response, recovery,and mitigation plans necessary to cope with the emergency, including any logistical, rescue orevacuation operations. Pursuant to section 252.36(1)(a), Florida Statutes, I delegate to the State
Coordinating Officer the authority to exercise those powers delineated in sections 252.36(6)-(12),Florida Statutes, which he shall exercise as needed to meet this emergency, subject to thelimitations of section 252.33, Florida Statutes. In exercising the powers delegated by thisExecutive Order, the State Coordinating Officer shall confer with the Governor to the fullest extentpracticable. The State Coordinating Officer shall also have the authority to:
A. Invoke and administer the Emergency Management Assistance Compact("EMAC") (sections 252.921-252.9335, Florida Statutes) and other compacts and agreements
existing between the State of Florida and other states, and the further authority to coordinate the2

allocation of resources from such other states that are inade available to Florida under suchcompacts and agreements so as to best meet this emergency.
B. Seek direct assistance and enter into agreements with any and all agencies ofthe federal government as may be needed to meet this emergency.
C. Direct all state, regional, and local governmental agencies, including law
enforcement agencies, to identify personnel needed from those ·agencies to assist in meeting theresponse, recovery, and mitigation needs created by this emergency, and to place all such personnel
under the direct command and coordination of the State Coordinating Officer to meet thisemergency.
D. Direct the actions of any state agency as necessary to implement the Federal
Emergency Management Agency's National Disaster Recovery Framework.
E. Designate Deputy State Coordinating Officers and Deputy State Disaster
Recovery Coordinators, as necessary.
F. Suspend the effect of any statute, rule, or order that would in any way prevent,hinder, or delay any mitigation, response, or recovery action necessary to cope with thisemergency. In accordance with section 252.3611(1), Florida Statutes, any such order, declaration,or other action shall specify each statute or rule being amended or waived, if applicable, and theexpiration date for the order or action.
G. Enter orders as may be needed to implement any of the foregoing powers;
however, the requirements of sections 252.46 and 120.54(4), Florida Statutes, do not apply to any,, such orders issued by the State Coordinating Officer. No such order shall remain in effect beyond
the expiration of this Executive Order, including any extension thereof.

3Section 3. I order the Adjutant General to activate the Florida National Guard, as needed,
to deal with this emergency. I further order the Director of the Florida State Guard to activate theFlorida State Guard, as needed, to respond to this emergency.
Section 4. I find that the special duties and responsibilities resting upon some state,regional, and local agencies and other governmental bodies in responding to this emergency may· require them to suspend or waive certain statutes, rules, ordinances, and orders they administer.
Therefore, I issue the foilowing authorizations:A. Pursuant to section 252.36(6)(a), Florida Statutes, the Executive Office of theGovernor may suspend all statutes and rules affecting budgeting to the extent necessary to provide
budget authority for state agencies to cope with this emergency. The requirements of sections
252.46 and 120.54(4), Florida Statutes; do not apply to any such suspension issued by theExecutive Office ofthe Governor. No such suspension shall remain in effect beyond the expirationof this Executive Order, including any extension thereof.
B. Each state agency may suspend the provisions of any regulatory statuteprescribing the procedures for conduct of state business or the orders or rules of that agency, if
strict compliance with the provisions of any such statute, order, or rule would in any way prevent,hinder, or delay necessary action in coping with the emergency. This includes, but is not limited
to, the authority to suspend any and all statutes, rules, ordinances, or orders which affect leasing,• printing, purchasing, travel, and the condition of employment and the compensation of employees.
In accordance with section 252.3611(1), Florida Statutes, any agency order, declaration, or otheraction suspending a statute or rule shall sped.fy each statute or rule being amended or waived, if
applicable, and the expiration date for the order or action. The requirements of sections 252.46
and 120.54(4), Florida Statutes, shall not apply to any such suspension issued by a state agency .

4

No such suspension shall reniain in effect beyond the expiration of this Executive Order, including
any extension thereof.
C. In accordance with section 252.38(3), Florida Statutes, each politicalsubdivision within the State of Florida may waive the procedures and formalities otherwise
required of the political subdivision by law pertaining to:1) Performance of public work and taking whatever prudent action 1s
necessary to ensure the .health, safety, and welfare of the community;
2) Following local procurement and contracting policies;3) Entering into contracts; however, political subdivisions are cautioned
against entering into time and materials. contracts without a ceiling as defined by 2 CFR 200.318G)
or cost plus a percentage of cost contracts prohibited by 2 CFR 200.324(d);4) Incurring obligations;5) Employment of permanent and temporary workers;6) Utilization of volunteer workers;7) Rental of equipment;
8) Acquisition and distribution, with or without compensation, of supplies,materials, and facilities; and9) Appropriation and expenditure of public funds.
D. All agencies whose employees are certified as disaster service volunteers within
the meaning of section 110 .120(2)(d), Florida Statutes, may, in accordance with section
110.120(3), Florida Statutes, release any such employees for such service as requested by theemployee to meet this emergency.
E. The Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation{DOT) may:51) Waive the collection of tolls and other fees and charges for the use of theTurnpike and other public highways, to the extent such waiver may be needed to provideemergency assistance or facilitate the evacuation of the affected counties;2) Manage the flow oftraffic or close any and all roads, highways, and portions
ofhighways as may be needed for the safe and efficient transportation ofevacuees to those counties
that the State Coordinating Officer may designate as destination counties for evacuees in thisemergency;
3) Suspend enforcement of the registration requirements pursuant to section
316.545(4), Florida Statutes, for commercial motor vehicles that enter Florida to provide
emergency services or supplies, to transport emergency equipment, supplies or personnel, or totransport FEMA mobile homes or office style mobile homes into or from Florida;4) Waive by spedal permit the warning signal requirements in the Utility
Accommodations Manual to accommodate public utility companies from other jurisdictions which
render assistance in restoring vital services; and5) Waive the size and weight restrictions for divis_ible loads on any vehicles
transporting emergency equipment, services, supplies, and agricultural commodities and citrus asrecommended by the Commissioner of Agriculture, allowing the establishment of alternate sizeand weight restrictions for ail such vehicles for the •duration of the emergency. The DOT shallissue permits and such vehicles shall be subject to such special conditions as the DOT may endorse
on any such permits.
Nothing in this Executive Order shall be construed to allow any vehicle to exceed weightlimits posted for bridges and like structures, or relieve any vehicle or the carrier, owner, or driverof any vehicle from compliance with any restrictions other than those specified in this Executive6

Order, or from any statute, rule, order, or other legal requirement not specifically waived orsuspended herein or by supplemental order by the State Coordinating Officer.
F. The Executive Director of the Department of Highway Safety and MotorVehicles (DHSMV) may:
1) Suspend enforcement of the registration requirements pursuant to sections
316.545(4) and 320.0715, Florida Statutes, for commercial motor vehicles that enter Florida toprovide emergency services or supplies, to transport emergency equipment, supplies or personnel,
or to transport FEMA mobile homes or office style mobile homes into or from Florida;2) Waive the hours-of-service requirements for such vehicles;3) Suspend the enforcement of the licensing and registration requirements
under the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) pursuant to chapter 207, Florida Statutes, andthe International Registration Plan (IRP) pursuant to section 320.0715, Florida Statutes, for motor
carriers or drivers operating commercial motor vehicles that are properly registered in otherjurisdictions and that are participating in emergency relief efforts through the transportation ofequipment and supplies or providing other assistance in the form of emergency services;
4) Waive fees for duplicate or replacement vessel registration certificates,
vessel title certificates, vehicle license plates, ·vehicle registration certificates, vehicle tag
certificates, vehicle title certificates, handicapped parking permits, replacement drivers' licenses,
and replacement identification cards and to waive the additional fees for the late renewal of orapplication for such licenses, certificates, and documents due to the effects of adverse weatherconditions; and5) Defer administrative actions and waive fees imposed by law for the laterenewal or application for the above licenses, certificates, and documents, which were delayed dueto the effects of adverse weather conditions, including in counties wherein the DHSMV has closed
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offices, or any office of the County Tax Collector that acts on behalf of the DHSMV to process
renewals has closed offices due to adverse weather conditions.
Recordkeeping and other applicable requirements for existing IFTA and IRP licensees andregistrants are not affected by this Executive Order. The DHSMV shall promptly notify the State
Coordinating Officer when the waiver is no longer necessary.
G. In accordance with section 465.0275(2), Florida Statutes, pharmacists may
dispense up to a 30-day emergency prescription refill of maintenance medication to persons who
reside in an area or county covered under this Executive Order and to emergency personnel who
have been activated by thei.i; state or local agency but who do not reside in an area or county coveredby this Executive Order. In accordance with section 465.019(4)(b), Florida Statutes, a hospitalthat operates a Class II or Class III institutional pharmacy located in an area or county covered
under this Executive Order may prescribe and dispense a supply of medicinal drug lasting up to72 hours.
H. All state agencies responsible for the use of state buildings and facilities may
close such buildings and facilities in those portions of the State affected by this emergency, to theextent necessary to meet this emergency. I direct each state agency to report the closure of any
State building or facility to the WebEOC system utilized by the Division of Emergency
Management. Under the authority contained in section 252.36, Florida Statutes, I direct eachcounty to report the closure of any building or facility operated or maintained by the county or any
political subdivision on a daily basis to the WebEOC system. Furthermore, I direct the Secretaryof the Department of Management Services to:1) Maintain an accurate and up-to-date list of all such closures; and2) Provide that list daily to the State Coordinating Officer.

8I.

All State agencies may abrogate the time requirements, notice requirements,and deadlines for final action on applications for permits, licenses, rates, and other approvals under
any statutes or rules under which such application are deemed to be approved unless disapprovedin writing by specified deadlines. All such time requirements that have not yet expired as of thedate of this Executive Order are suspended and tolled to the extent necessary to meet thisemergency.
J. All agendes shall implement Selected Exempt Services (SES) Extraordinary
Payment Plans and Career Service Regular Compensatory Leave Payment Plans for:1) All essential agency personnel who are required to work extraordinary
hours when state-owned or state-operated facilities are closed in response to an emergency
condition. Employees who are eligible to receive extraordinary pay under the agency's activatedplan shall accrue special compensatory leave credits for work performed during facility closures
up to the number of hours in the employee's established workday. For these employees, any
additional time worked beyond the employee's established workday during facility closures will
result in extraordinary pay;2) All agency personnel who are assigned to the State Emergency Operations
Center and are required to work extraordinary hours; and3) All agency personnel who are deployed throughout the state in response toan emergency condition and are required to work extraordinary hours.
K. All State agencies may waive the forty-day time limit to issue a warrant
pursuant to section 215 .422(3)(b ), Florida Statutes.

This waiver applies to invoices andreimbursement requests arising from this emergency that were received, inspected, and approvedby the agency prior to the expiration ofthis Executive Order, including any extension thereof. This9

waiver of section 215.422(3)(b), Florida Statutes, and all waivers based upon this waiver shallexpire upon the expiration of this Executive Order, including any extension thereof.
L. The provisions ofsection 934.50, Florida Statutes, excluding subsection (4), arewaived for state and local agencies conducting emergency operations arising from the state of
emergency for the limited purpose of capturing aerial evidence concerning the amount of damage
sustained to private and public property; to assist in search, rescue, and recovery activities; andprevent imminent danger to life or serious.damage to property.
Section 5. All public facilities, including elementary and secondary schools, community
colleges, state universities, and other facilities owned or leased by the state, regional or local
governments that are suitable for use as public shelters shall be made available at the request of
the local emergency management agencies to ensure the proper reception and care of all evacuees.
Under the authority contained in section 252.36, Florida Statutes, I direct the Superintendent ofeach public-school district in the State of Florida to report the closure of any school within its
district to the Commissioner of the Florida Department of Education. Furthermore, I direct theCommissioner of the Department of Education to:
A. Maintain an accurate and up-to-date list of all such closures; andB. Provide that list daily to the State Coordinating Officer.
Section 6. I find that the demands placed upon funds specifically appropriated to state andlocal agencies for disaster relief or response are unreasonably great and that such funds may beinadequate to pay the costs of coping with this emergency. In accordance with section 252.37(2),Florida Statutes, I direct that sufficient funds be made available, as needed, by transferring andexpending moneys from the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund.
Section 7. All state agencies entering emergency orders, emergency rules, or otheremergency actions in response to this emergency shall advise the State Coordinating Officer

contemporaneously or as soon as practicable thereafter, and, pursuant to section 252.36(3)(b),
Florida Statutes, shall submit the order or declaration to the Division of Administrative Hearings
within five (5) days of issuance.
Section 8. Medical professionals and workers, social workers, and counselors with goodand valid professional licenses issued by states other than the State of Florida may render suchservices in Florida during this emergency for persons affected by this emergency with thecondition that such services be rendered to such persons free of charge, and with ·the further
condition that such services be rendered under the auspices of the American Red Cross or theFlorida Department of Health.
Section 9. Pursuant to section 501.160, Florida Statutes, it is unlawful and a violation ofsection 501.204, Florida Statutes, for a person to rent or sell or offer to rent or seil at anunconscionable price within the area for which the state of emergency is declared, any essentialcommodity including, but not limited to, supplies, services, provisions, or equipment that •isnecessary for consumption or use as a direct result of the emergency.
Section 10. Under the authority contained in sections 252.36(6)(a), (g), and (m), Florida
Statutes, I direct that, for the purposes of this emergency, the term "essentials", as defined bysection 252.359(2), Florida Statutes, shall be the same as and no more expansive than the term"commodity", as defined by section 501.160(l)(a), Florida Statutes (hereinafter referred tocollectively or alternatively as "essential commodities"). Accordingly, any person who delivers
essential commodities to a location in the area(s) declared to be under a state of emergency by thisExecutive Order, and when necessary to ensure that those commodities are made available to thepublic, may travel within evacuated areas and exceed curfews, provided the State Coordinating
Officer determines, after consultation with the appropriate Emergency Support Function(s), that:

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A. Law enforcement officials in the declared area(s) can provide adequate security
to protect the essential commodities from theft;
B. The weight of a delivery vehicle will not jeopardize the structural integrity of
any roadway or bridge located within the declared area;
C. Delivery vehicles will not negatively impact evacuation activities m thedeclared area(s); andD. Delivery vehicles will not negatively impact any response or recovery activities
occurring within the declared area(s).
After consulting with the appropriate Emergency Support Function(s), and after consultingwith local officials, the State Coordinating Officer may dictate the routes of ingress, egress, andmovement within the declared area(s) that drivers must follow when delivering essentialcommodities.
Provided he or she is actually delivering medications, any person authorized to deliver
medications under chapter 893, Florida Statutes, qualifies as a person delivering essentialcommodities.
In order to qualify as a person delivering essential commodities under this section, a person
must be in the process of delivering essential commodities only. If an individual is transporting
both essential and non-essential commodities, then this section shall not provide any authorization
for that individual to enter into or move within the declared area(s).
Section 11. Consistent with Executive Order 80-29, nothing in this Executive Order shallprevent local jurisdictions in any area not declared to be under a state of emergency by thisExecutive Order from taking prompt and necessary action to save lives and protect the property of
their citizens, including the authority to compel and direct timely evacuation when necessary.

12Section 12. I authorize the Florida Housing Finance Corporation to distribute funds
pursuant to section 420.9073, Florida Statutes, to any county, municipality, or other politicalsubdivision located within the area(s) declared to be under a state of emergency by this ExecutiveOrder. The authority of the Florida Housing Finance Corporation to distribute funds in connection
with this emergency shall expire six months after the expiration of this Executive Order, including
any extension thereof.
Section 13. All actions taken by the D1rector of the Division of Emergency Managementwith respect to this emergency before the issuance of this Executive Order are ratified.
Section 14. This Executive Order is effective immediately and shall expire sixty (60) days
from this date unless extended.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set
my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State ofFlorida to be affixed, at Tallahassee, this 1st dayof August, 2024.

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