Florida News That Impacts You – October 16th, 2024
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- Florida has activated the Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program to aid small businesses within the state negatively impacted by Hurricane Milton. Under the program businesses are able to obtain immediate zero-interest loans. The loans have one-year terms and are available for up to $50,000 for non-agricultural businesses with $100,000 limits for agricultural businesses.
- Martin County officials said 72% of the county has been surveyed following last week’s historic tornadoes. 401 homes were damaged, 27 have been determined to have been destroyed with an additional 24 sustaining major damage. Additionally, 20 businesses sustained damage, 4 had major damage with one business having been destroyed. Impacted residents may seek assistance at the Multi-Agency Resource Center at the Robert Morgade Library with be open from 10 am to 7 pm through Thursday to connect residents with agencies that can provide support. Officials said 180 residents have sought support at the resource center this week.
- In Indian River County, current assessment reports show a total of 301 homes damaged by tornadoes with 74 sustaining major damage and 51 having been destroyed.
- A 7th death attributed to Hurricane Milton occurred in St. Lucie County. Medical Examiners have determined that Robert Mackenzie died due to injuries sustained during a fall while putting up shutters on his home in advance of the hurricane. The other six deaths had been attributed to a tornado.
- After a cool start again this morning with temperatures dropping into the upper 60’s, today will provide a mix of clouds and sun with and highs in the mid 80’s -which is slightly warmer than usual for this date. A cool front will begin to move in late in that day that will bring wind along with it. The National Hurricane Center is tracking two systems. A disturbance in the mid-Atlantic has a 50% chance of development (lower than yesterday). All leading models show the system moving away from Florida with most moving the system south into Hispaniola or Cuba. A second disturbance in the Western Caribbean Sea has a 20% chance of developing (also lower than yesterday) and it's too early to know what if anything may come of it.
- Gas prices were flat again on Tuesday. The average price for regular unleaded in Florida is currently $3.10 per gallon. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.26 per gallon, in Martin the average is $3.11 and in Indian River County the average is $3.09 per gallon.