BREAKING: Gov. Ron DeSantis has formally asked President Trump for an expedited Major Disaster Declaration for Brevard County and eight other Florida counties after this month's historic flooding.![]()
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Under federal law, only a state's governor can request a major disaster declaration. The request is built from damage information gathered by state and county emergency management officials, and it goes to the president through FEMA.![]()
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In a letter dated Monday, Nov. 9, DeSantis asked for federal disaster aid for Brevard, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties.![]()
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The governor wrote that the flooding caused "significant damages" and that riverine flooding is still going on. He said the impact "extends well beyond the capability" of the state and local governments to handle.![]()
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The state is asking the federal government to make all of the following available:![]()
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Individual Assistance for affected residents![]()
Public Assistance for debris removal![]()
Public Assistance for emergency protective measures![]()
Direct Federal Assistance![]()
The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program![]()
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DeSantis asked that the disaster period start on Oct. 31. Because the damage keeps growing, he also asked FEMA to skip formal field damage assessments.![]()
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The letter calls the event a "historic and catastrophic flash flooding event" from early Nov. 1 through the morning of Nov. 3. Parts of southern Brevard got more than 24 inches of rain, and the flooding led to large-scale water rescues around Melbourne, Palm Bay and Malabar.![]()
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DeSantis declared a state of emergency for Brevard and six other counties on Nov. 2 and added Okeechobee and Palm Beach two days later.![]()
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The request is now pending with FEMA and the White House. Until it's approved, FEMA assistance is not available to residents with flood damage.![]()
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The Space Coast Rocket will update this story as it develops.![]()
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#BrevardCounty #FloridaFlooding #SpaceCoast
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President Trump is pressing the outgoing Republican Senate to confirm his pending nominees before Democrats take control in January.![]()
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In a Truth Social post Monday, the current president wrote: "Very important for the U.S. Senate to confirm all of our pending 161 Nominations, including 25 Federal Judges. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"![]()
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The post came the same day the Senate returned for its lame-duck session, less than a week after Democrats won control of the chamber in the Nov. 3 midterms.![]()
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Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority, but the new Congress convenes in January, when Democrats are expected to take over. Once that happens, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Republicans will lose the ability to confirm the president's nominees on their own.![]()
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Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley has scheduled back-to-back nomination hearings beginning Tuesday, Nov. 10, to move judicial picks before the majority changes.![]()
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Trump has had 56 federal judges confirmed so far in his second term, on top of 234 in his first, according to Ballotpedia data through Nov. 1.![]()
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The lame-duck calendar is short, and nominations will compete for floor time with other legislative priorities before the end of the year.![]()
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#USSenate #FederalJudges #TrumpNominees
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Accident 95 South after Pineda causing delays.
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Brevard County, in partnership with the City of Palm Bay - Government and City of West Melbourne - Government, has opened two Multi-Agency Resource Centers (MARC) to connect residents impacted by recent flooding with recovery resources and assistance.![]()
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The centers opened Monday, November 9, and will be available daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the following locations:![]()
📍Tony Rosa Community Center: 1502 Port Malabar Blvd. NE, Palm Bay, FL![]()
📍Veterans Memorial Complex: 2285 Minton Road, West Melbourne, FL![]()
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Representatives from the following agencies will be available to answer questions, provide information and help connect flood survivors with available resources:![]()
🔹American Red Cross![]()
🔹Community Legal Services![]()
🔹Florida Department of Children and Families![]()
🔹Florida Department of Elder Affairs![]()
🔹Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation![]()
🔹U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs![]()
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Brevard County continues to coordinate with local, state and federal partners to identify and secure additional resources for residents impacted by the flooding. Information about additional assistance and recovery resources will be shared as it becomes available.
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