MEMORANDUM

TO:                 Members of the Press

FROM:           Taryn Fenske, Director of Communications, Governor Ron DeSantis

DATE:             Thursday, January 5, 2023

RE:                 Executive Order 23-02 (Emergency Management – Extension of Executive Order 22-253 – Hurricane Nicole)

Good Evening:

Today, Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 23-02 (Emergency Management – Extension of Executive Order 22-253 – Hurricane Nicole), extending the state of emergency for Hurricane Nicole.

This extension is necessary because impacted areas are still recovering from Hurricane Nicole’s strong winds, storm surge, flooding, and heavy rainfall and require the continued support of the State of Florida.

A copy of Executive order 23-02 can be found here.

Sincerely,

Taryn Fenske

Director of Communications

Governor Ron DeSantis

STATE OF FLORIDA

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 23-02

(Emergency Management – Extension of Executive Order 22-253 – Hurricane Nicole)

WHEREAS, on November 7, 2022, I issued Executive Order 22-253, declaring a state of emergency for thirty-four counties in Florida due to the dangers presented by then-Subtropical Storm Nicole; and

WHEREAS, on November 9, 2022, I issued Executive Order 22-255, which amended Executive Order 22-253 by adding coastal and inland counties in Central and North Florida to the state of emergency; and

WHEREAS, on November 10, 2022, I issued Executive Order 22-256, which amended Executive Order 22-253 to extend the state of emergency to the entire State of Florida; and

WHEREAS, on the morning of November 10, 2022, Hurricane Nicole made landfall near Vero Beach, Florida, as a Category 1 Hurricane with sustained winds of approximately 75 miles per hour, traveled across the peninsula, and exited partially into the Gulf of Mexico before making a second landfall in the Florida Big Bend; and

WHEREAS, the affected areas, some of which were severely impacted by Hurricane Ian just weeks before, are still recovering from Hurricane Nicole’s strong winds, storm surge, flooding, and heavy rainfall; and

WHEREAS, Executive Order 22-253 expires on January 6, 2022, unless extended; and

WHEREAS, an extension of Executive Order 22-253 is necessary because recovery efforts and those affected by this disaster require the continued support of the State of Florida.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RON DESANTIS, as Governor of Florida, by virtue of the authority 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. The state of emergency and all provisions of Executive Order 22-253, as amended, are renewed for sixty (60) days following the date of this Executive Order.

Section 2. All actions taken by the Director of the Division of Emergency Management as the State Coordinating Officer with respect to this emergency before the issuance of this Executive Order are ratified, and he is directed to continue to execute the State of Florida Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan and other response, recovery, and mitigation plans necessary to cope with this emergency.

Section 3. Except as amended herein, Executive Orders 22-253, 22-255, and 22-256 are ratified and reaffirmed.

Section 4. This Executive Order is effective immediately.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and have caused the Great Seal of the State of Florida to be affixed at Tallahassee, this 5^th day of January, 2023.

Governor Ron DeSantis

Attest: Secretary of State

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