Hurricane Ian – A Defining Moment for Gov. Ron DeSantis

As 155-mile-per-hour winds were bearing down on the Suncoast of Florida on Wednesday, September 28, it wasn't hard to find political tornadoes swirling around the Sunshine State. From Tallahassee to Tampa, Hurricane Ian spawned numerous party grievances that had to be nipped in the bud. Why? Because when the eye of a hurricane is headed straight for you, politics is not the first topic that comes to mind.

Gov. Ron DeSantis was wise to get ahead of this once-in-a-century East Coast catastrophe as the 500-mile-wide ball of wind and rain made its way from the Gulf of Mexico inland. A full six days before the historic storm hit the Florida coastline – when it was still considered a tropical depression – the governor declared a state of emergency in 24 Florida counties.

"Today, I signed an Executive Order issuing a State of Emergency due to the threat of Tropical Depression 9," DeSantis said in a statement on September 23. "This storm has the potential to strengthen into a major hurricane, and we encourage all Floridians to make their preparations," he warned. "We are coordinating with all state and local government partners to track potential impacts of this storm."

By the 27th, DeSantis' statements took on a new urgency. He issued orders for mandatory evacuation from 12 coastal communities and spread the word that the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) was ready to rumble. This included emergency teams being sent from as far away as Ohio. The units began coordinating resources, including "trucks of food and water, generators and water pumps." FDEM was also deployed to open hurricane shelters and provide "100,000 tarps to protect homes and allow more residents to stay at home rather than in a public shelter," according to the governor's office.

As well, 5,000 members of Florida's National Guard were activated, and "over 30,000 linemen were ready and waiting for the storm to pass so they could begin connecting power and utilities," according to Liberty Nation Managing Editor Mark Angelides.

These were the primary operations, though it seemed DeSantis & Co. had dug into the smaller but vital elements of life that Hurricane Ian would disrupt. The Office of Insurance Regulation was ordered to permit early prescription refills for residents. Florida's health care providers were told to take a census of their facilities: How many beds were filled? How many were empty and available? Were their generators up to snuff in case of likely, lengthy power outages?

Politics Seeps into Hurricane Ian Coverage

President Joe Biden kicked off the politics of Ian with a protocol snub by calling three Florida Suncoast mayors before picking up the phone to talk to the governor. Still determined to eschew politics amid an emergency, Gov. DeSantis took no offense. Even CNN had to admit, "DeSantis issued the rare compliment of the White House after Biden declared a state of emergency for the state" and quoted the governor as saying, "They stand by ready to help, so we appreciate that quick action." As the top dog in the state, Florida’s governor has been making himself available with daily press conferences despite the presence of eager reporters waiting for him to slip up.

Politico dipped into the partisan waters but received a thwack on the nose and had to correct itself with some stealth editing when it tried to ratchet up the talk about "concerns of a lax response" and "complacency." Meanwhile, reporters tried to bait FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell into complaining about the state's response to Ian but could not. "I think the communication that we have had with the state officials has been excellent," she asserted in a news conference.

This is not the governor's first rodeo. He came into office on the heels of Hurricane Michael in 2018. So, when a reporter tried to twist Criswell's words, saying she had indicated Florida's response to the storm was lax, DeSantis wasn't having any of it:

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Give me a break. That is nonsense. Stop politicizing, okay? Stop it!”

Thus far, Ron DeSantis has made all the right moves, but Hurricane Ian will undoubtedly present a challenge to his leadership abilities. Staying focused on the problems at hand and off politics is a smart move by Florida's governor. He intuitively understands that how he handles this tragedy will affect his political aspirations. Lesser trials have deep-sixed many a political career. However, DeSantis seems to have that rare ability to assess the importance of the moment and is doing everything within his power to come out smelling like a rose. And that portends nothing but good things for the residents of Florida who are suffering through what can only be called the worst of times.