Governor Orders National Guard To Help Florida Keys

TALLAHASSEE, FL — Gov. Rick Scott on Monday activated 400 members of the Florida National Guard to assist with the cleanup in the Florida Keys. The guardsmen will focus on removing debris that is blocking access to homes. Hurricane Irma first made landfall in Cudjoe Key as it tore a path of destruction through the Sunshine State on Sept. 10.

“Today, I activated the Florida National Guard for debris removal in the Florida Keys to help families get into their homes faster so they can make needed repairs and get back to their normal lives," Scott said on Monday. "These missions will focus on clearing debris from areas where homes are blocked so residents can get back to their houses."

Meanwhile, local officials are targeting Sunday, Oct. 1 as the official reopening of the Keys for tourists.

“We know we have a long way to go before the Keys fully recover,” said Monroe County Mayor George Neugent. “But because tourism is our top economic engine and many of our residents’ livelihoods depend on it, we also know that we need to begin asking visitors to return.”

Local officials said that almost all power and water have been restored from Key Largo through Marathon as well as throughout Stock Island and Key West while mobile service is also working well though Comcast cable television and Internet has not kept pace with the rest of the recovery.

Scott acknowledged that the Florida Keys were particularly hard hit by Hurricane Irma in announcing the troop activation. (For more hurricane news or local news from Florida, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Miami Patch, and click here to find your local Florida Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

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"I am thankful for the Florida National Guard and their work before, during and after Hurricane Irma to keep families safe," Scott said. "We are proud of their service to Florida.”

Scott said that he was sending 40 trucks with the soldiers help families remove debris and clean out flood damage from residential areas.

"These debris removal missions will begin immediately so residents can get back to their normal lives," the governor added.

Key West International Airport has reopened for commercial service and general aviation while Florida Keys Marathon International Airport is processing general aviation and charter flights. The Port of Key West has also reopened for cruise ships.

Key Largo’s Humphrey Bogart Film Festival will take place as planned on Oct. 18-22 as will Marathon’s Stone Crab Eating Contest on Oct. 21 and Key West’s Fantasy Fest from Oct. 20-29.

For more information on the Florida Keys click here.

First responders from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue conducted search and rescue missions in the Florida Keys. Photo courtesy Miami-Dade Fire Rescue