>>THIS WEEK ON NEWSNIGHT, RECOVERY EFFORTS IN THE WAKE OF HURRICANE IVAN, RESIDENTS BEGIN THE TASK OF CLEANING UP AND COUNTING THE COSTS OF DEVASTATING FLOODING IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, LEFT IN THE WAKE OF THE STORM.

THE ROAD TO RECOVERY AND THE LESSONS LEARNED.

NEWSNIGHT STARTS NOW.

[MUSIC] HELLO, I'M STEVE MORT, AND WELCOME TO NEWSNIGHT, WHERE WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BIG STORIES IMPACTING CENTRAL FLORIDA AND HOW THEY AFFECT ALL OF US.

JOINING US THIS WEEK IN THE STUDIO, BRENDAN BYRNE FROM 90.7 WMFE NEWS AND DARALENE JONES FROM WFTV, CHANNEL NINE THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING IN.

REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

I KNOW WE'RE ALL REALLY BUSY AT THE MOMENT, SO IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS HERE.

WELL, FIRST TONIGHT, PRESIDENT BIDEN JOINED GOVERNOR DESANTIS IN FORT MYERS.

THIS WEEK TO SEE THE DESTRUCTION LEFT IN THE WAKE OF HURRICANE IAN AS THE DEATH TOLL FROM ONE OF THE DEADLIEST STORMS EVER TO HIT THE STATE RISES.

WE START TONIGHT WITH A LOOK AT A FLORIDA RECOVERY EFFORT WITHOUT PRECEDENT.

IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, HURRICANE IAN'S CATEGORY FOUR WINDS LEFT A TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION WITH COMMUNITIES LIKE FORT MYERS BEACH CHANGED FOREVER.

>>IT WAS VERY HEART WRENCHING KNOWING THAT EVERYTHING WENT.

BUT WE'LL DIG OUT AND SALVAGE WHAT WE CAN AND START ALL OVER.

>>AFTER TAKING AIM AT LEE COUNTY, THE STORM CUT A SWATH ACROSS THE PENINSULA INUNDATING CENTRAL FLORIDA COMMUNITIES WITH RECORD RAINFALL.

FLOODING IN ORANGE, OSCEOLA, SEMINOLE, VOLUSIA AND FLAGLER COUNTIES LEFT SOME NEIGHBORHOODS SUBMERGED.

WHILE POWER COMPANIES HAVE BEEN RESTORING ELECTRICITY TO CUT OFF COMMUNITIES, THE WATER DAMAGE TO HOMES AND PROPERTY WILL TAKE LONGER TO REPAIR.

WHILE FEDERAL AGENCIES HAVE BEEN ASSISTING IN SEARCH AND RESCUE.

PRESIDENT BIDEN, DURING HIS VISIT TO FLORIDA THIS WEEK, AGAIN PROMISED FULL SUPPORT FOR THE LONG HAUL.

>>TODAY, WE HAVE ONE JOB AND ONLY ONE JOB, AND THAT'S TO MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA GET EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEED TO FULLY, THOROUGHLY RECOVER.

WE'RE ONE OF THE FEW NATIONS IN THE WORLD THAT ON A BASIS OF A CRISIS WE FACE.

WE'RE THE ONLY NATION THAT COMES OUT OF IT BETTER THAN WE WENT INTO IT.

AND THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS TIME AROUND.

COME OUT OF IT BETTER BECAUSE WE'RE THIS IS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND I EMPHASIZE UNITED.

>>LOSSES FROM THIS STORM ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN THE TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS AN EXPEDITED MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATION WILL PAY FOR INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE AND DEBRIS REMOVAL IN 17 COUNTIES AND 100% OF DIRECT FEDERAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE COST OF SEARCH AND RESCUE, SHELTER, FOOD AND OTHER EMERGENCY MEASURES FOR 60 DAYS.

GOVERNOR DESANTIS THANKED THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IN A JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE WITH THE PRESIDENT.

>>WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE GOOD COORDINATION WITH THE WHITE HOUSE AND WITH FEMA FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF THIS, WE DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY LAST FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD.

THIS WASN'T EVEN THIS WAS A DISTURBANCE OUT THERE BY COLUMBIA AND THEN THE NEXT DAY WE GOT A MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATION APPROVED BY THE PRESIDENT, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATED THAT.

AND THAT BASICALLY SET OFF THE MASSIVE MOBILIZATION THAT WE HAD READY TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THIS STORM.

>>BUT AMID THE UNITY, POLITICAL SCUFFLES BROKE OUT THIS WEEK OVER ISSUES INCLUDING THE EVACUATION OF LEE COUNTY, WARNINGS OVER LOOTING, UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS, THE TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF RELIEF WORK DURING A TOUR BY THE GOVERNOR AND THE PERFORMANCE OF THE MEDIA.

MEANWHILE, THE CLEAN UP EFFORTS CONTINUE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, WHERE HURRICANE IAN DUMPED WELL OVER A FOOT OF RAIN IN MANY PLACES.

JUST SOME AMAZING IMAGES THERE.

DARALENE, LET ME START WITH YOU ON THIS ONE.

I MEAN, WE'RE STILL SEEING SOME OF THOSE FLOODWATERS RISING IN SOME PLACES STICKING AROUND IN OTHERS.

WHERE ARE WE SEEING PLACES THAT ARE STILL EXPERIENCING THIS INUNDATION?

>>IT IS REALLY INCREDIBLE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT WAS DUMPED ON AND INTO SOME OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.

SO YOU HAVE PROBLEMS STILL RIGHT NOW.

TODAY ON THE EAST SIDE OF ORLANDO AND THE ORLO VISTA COMMUNITY, IN THE LEE VISTA COMMUNITY AND THEN THE WEST SIDE IN ORLO VISTA, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE ISSUES STILL IN SEMINOLE COUNTY, PARTS OF SEMINOLE COUNTY, AROUND THOSE LAKES, LAKE HARNEY AND ASTER AND LAKE COUNTY.

THESE PEOPLE, ACCORDING TO OUR METEOROLOGISTS, THEY BELIEVE THAT THESE PEOPLE COULD STILL SEE WATER IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, NOT JUST FOR DAYS, BUT FOR WEEKS TO COME.

>>WHY ARE WE SEEING THIS SLOW MOVING DISASTER HAPPENING, BRENDAN?

>>THERE'S JUST SO MUCH WATER.

AS DARALENE PUT I MEAN, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUT OUT SOME SOME TOTALS DURING THE STORM.

PLACES IN VOLUSIA COUNTY GOT UPWARDS OF 20 INCHES OF RAIN DURING THE STORM.

I MEAN THAT'S JUST SO MUCH RAIN THERE'S NO PLACE FOR THIS WATER TO GO, RIGHT?

ALL OF ALL OF THE STORM SYSTEMS AND THE STORM DRAINS ARE PUSHED TO THE BRIM ALL OF THESE NATURAL RIVERS AND CREEKS THAT ARE OUT THERE ARE FILLING UP AS THIS WATER IS DRAINING AND ALL OF THIS WATER WENT ON TOP OF ALREADY SATURATED GROUND SO IT WAS JUST A RECIPE FOR DISASTER HERE.

>>THAT REALLY IS A GREAT POINT.

SOME OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, PARTICULARLY IN LAKE COUNTY, SEMINOLE COUNTY, THEY WERE ALREADY NEAR THE BRINK OF FLOODING BEFORE THIS STORM.

AND SO WHAT WE EXPERIENCE NOT ONLY MADE MATTERS THAT MUCH MORE WORSE.

>>AND YOUR TEAMS HAVE BEEN OUT COVERING THIS DISASTER FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU FROM THE SORT OF STORIES YOU'VE HEARD THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH LOSS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

>>THERE REALLY HAS BEEN SO MUCH LOSS AND IT'S DEVASTATING TO SEE.

IT'S HEARTBREAKING, ONE DAY I WAS IN A COMMUNITY AND MY HEART STARTED TO LITERALLY ACHE THINKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT SOME OF THESE COMMUNITIES JUST WENT THROUGH THIS FIVE YEARS AGO WITH IRMA.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STICKS OUT TO ME AND THAT I KEEP SAYING OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN MY MIND IS THAT WHEN WE HAVE NATURAL DISASTERS LIKE THIS, IT TRULY DOES REVEAL THE INEQUITIES THAT EXIST IN INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES.

>>NO DOUBT THOSE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES OFTEN GET HIT SO MUCH HARDER BY NATURAL DISASTERS.

WHAT ABOUT YOU BRENDAN?

I MEAN, WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU FROM YOUR REPORTING AND THAT OF YOUR COLLEAGUES?

>>I MEAN, I'VE BEEN IN FLORIDA FOR 35 YEARS.

I'VE BEEN REPORTING FOR ALMOST A DECADE.

AND WHEN I GOT SENT OUT TO GO COVER THE AFTERMATH, I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE COAST AND IT WAS FINE.

I WENT TO THE VOLUSIA COUNTY COAST AND IT WAS FINE.

IT WAS WHAT WAS INLAND THAT GOT HIT THE WORST.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT STOOD OUT IS THE PLACES THAT WEREN'T EXPECTING THIS MUCH DAMAGE AND THIS MUCH DESTRUCTION.

WE'RE THE ONES THAT GOT IT.

THE PEOPLE THAT I TALKED TO IN VOLUSIA COUNTY, THEY WERE LIKE, WE'VE NEVER SEEN FLOODING LIKE THIS BEFORE.

BOTH THEIR STORM DRAINS AND THEIR CANALS.

DESPITE BEING MILES INLAND, THEY STILL HAD EVERYTHING DESTROYED.

AND IT WAS WHERE YOU DON'T IT DIDN'T EXPECT IT IS WHERE IT HAPPENED.

>>REAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEMS ALONG THE ST. JOHN'S RIVER, WHICH OF COURSE CAUSED THOSE PROBLEMS AFTER IRMA IN JACKSONVILLE, FOR EXAMPLE.

I MEAN, DARALENE, ONE OF THE BIG PROBLEMS HAS BEEN UTILITIES AND POWER WHAT ARE THE UTILITIES SAYING NOW ABOUT THEIR RESTORATION EFFORTS?

HAVE THEY BEEN BROADLY SUCCESSFUL IN BRINGING PEOPLE BACK ONLINE?

>>YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO SAY WHEN WE TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT CENTRAL FLORIDA, I DO BELIEVE THAT THE UTILITY COMPANIES HAVE DONE AS BEST THEY CAN BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO REMEMBER, EVEN THOUGH WE HARP ON THIS, "WHEN ARE THE LIGHTS COMING BACK ON?"

IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE TAKE FOR GRANTED UNTIL WE DON'T HAVE IT.

BUT I THINK THEY WORKED AS BEST THEY COULD TO GET INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS, GIVEN THE HIGH LEVELS OF WATER THAT THAT FELL ON TO OUR COMMUNITY.

SO RIGHT NOW, MOST PEOPLE DO HAVE POWER.

WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE HIGH NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WERE WITHOUT POWER, I THINK, OUC REPORTING MOST ALL OF THEIR CUSTOMERS HAVE POWER.

DUKE, FPL, YOU KNOW, SIMILAR STORIES THERE.

BUT AGAIN, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THESE UTILITY COMPANIES AND EVEN THE MUNICIPALITIES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK INTO UNDERGROUND UTILITY POWER LINES.

THE MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAVE UNDERGROUND LINES RIGHT NOW, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THANKFUL.

>>AND MANY OF THE OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND CENTRAL FLORIDA DON'T HAVE THOSE BURIED CABLES.

YOU SEE THE CABLES VERY CLOSE TO TREES.

BRENDAN, THERE ARE STILL PILES OF DEBRIS, PROBABLY IN ALL OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA ON THE TIME SCALE FOR WHEN MAYBE THOSE DEBRIS PILES WILL BE CLEARED AWAY?

>>WE HEARD IN SEMINOLE COUNTY, ALLEN HARRIS, THE EMERGENCY MANAGER, WHO SAID, YOU KNOW, NEXT WEEK THOSE EFFORTS WILL START WORKING, BUT THERE'S JUST A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF DEBRIS AND SOMETHING STUCK OUT TO ME RIGHT AFTER THE, IAN PASSED THROUGH.

ALLEN HARRIS SAID WE'RE LOOKING AT SOMETHING LIKE THREE QUARTERS OF A MILLION CUBIC YARDS OF STUFF.

AND HE SAID THAT COULD FILL NINE SPACESHIP EARTHS AT EPCOT, WHICH WAS STAGGERING TO ME.

THAT IS JUST SO MUCH DEBRIS.

SO WHILE THEY SAY NEXT WEEK, I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY QUICK CLEANUP WITH WITH THAT MUCH.

>>JUST BRIEFLY, DARALENE, I MEAN, WE KNOW THAT THE PRESIDENT AND THE GOVERNOR HAVE BROADLY, I THINK, WHAT WE COULD FAIRLY CALL AN ADVERSARIAL RELATIONSHIP.

WE'VE SEEN SOME INDICATIONS OF UNITY IN THE LAST FEW DAYS.

HOW HAS THAT STATE FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP BEEN GOING THUS FAR?

>>I THINK THAT IT'S GOING AND I THINK THAT'S GOOD NEWS, NOT ONLY FOR THEM BOTH POLITICALLY RIGHT NOW, BUT FOR THE PEOPLE.

WHEN YOU HAVE DISASTERS LIKE THIS, YOU REALLY HAVE TO PUT ALL OF THAT ASIDE.

IT IS TRULY ABOUT THE PEOPLE RIGHT NOW.

AND I THINK WE SAW THAT DISPLAYED THIS WEEK WHEN THE PRESIDENT AND GOVERNOR STOOD SIDE BY SIDE DOWN IN FORT MYERS IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

>>AS THE PRESIDENT SAID, AT THE MOMENT, WE HAVE ONE JOB AND THAT'S TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA.

WELL, A REMINDER, WE ARE RECORDING THIS PROGRAM ON THURSDAY MORNING SO THINGS CAN AND LIKELY WILL CHANGE BY AIR TIME.

IN THE MEANTIME, YOU CAN JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE'RE AT WUCFTV ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM.

OK, NEXT TONIGHT, HURRICANE IAN HAS BROUGHT FLORIDA'S PROPERTY INSURANCE ISSUES INTO STARK RELIEF WITH COMPANIES GOING OUT OF BUSINESS OR LEAVING THE STATE EVEN BEFORE THE STORM HIT.

COULD IAN PLUNGE THE MARKET INTO FURTHER CHAOS?

WELL, I SPOKE WITH STATE SENATOR JEFF BRANDES, A REPUBLICAN FROM ST. PETERSBURG.

WHO WAS AT THE FOREFRONT OF PUSHING FOR A SPECIAL SESSION ON INSURANCE HELD EARLY THIS YEAR, WHICH CREATED A $2 BILLION REINSURANCE FUND TO STABILIZE THE MARKET.

>>IF THERE WAS EVER A YEAR THAT FLORIDA DIDN'T NEED A STORM, IT WAS THIS YEAR.

THE PROPERTY INSURANCE MARKET IN FLORIDA HAS LOST $1,000,000,000 FOR EACH OF THE LAST THREE YEARS.

IT'S GOING TO LOSE $1,000,000,000 THIS YEAR.

AND HAS LOST SIX COMPANIES IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS.

SO I THINK WHAT THIS WHAT'S GOING TO ULTIMATELY GOING TO HAPPEN AS CITIZENS, IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW.

I WON'T BE SURPRISED IF CITIZENS IS UP OVER 2 MILLION POLICIES BY THE END, BY THE BEGINNING OF 2024.

AND YOU HAVE A NUMBER OF OTHER COMPANIES THAT LEAVE THE MARKET.

SO WE'RE IN A REALLY BAD PLACE IN FLORIDA.

>>YOU TOOK INCREMENTAL STEPS TO TRY TO FIX THE INSURANCE MARKET IN THAT SPECIAL SESSION.

BUT WHAT MORE STEPS DO YOU NEED TO TAKE TO TRY TO GET THE COMPANIES THAT ARE HERE TO STAY AND ATTRACT OTHERS BACK?

>>WE'VE GOT TO END THE RAMPANT LITIGATION THAT'S THAT'S DRIVING COMPANIES OUT OF FLORIDA.

FLORIDA REPRESENTS JUST 8% OF TOTAL US PROPERTY CLAIMS BUT WE ARE 80% OF THE LITIGATION IN THE COUNTRY.

OVER 107,000 LAWSUITS WERE FILED AGAINST PROPERTY INSURERS LAST YEAR.

THE AVERAGE FOR ALMOST EVERY OTHER STATE WAS LESS THAN A THOUSAND.

WE CAN NO LONGER BE THE MOST HURRICANE PRONE STATE IN THE COUNTRY AND THE MOST LITIGIOUS STATE IN THE COUNTRY AND EXPECT RATES TO GO DOWN.

THOSE TWO THINGS SIMPLY CAN'T COEXIST.

>>THE GOVERNOR HAS MADE A BIG PUSH ON RESILIENCY DURING HIS ADMINISTRATION, BUT AFTER THIS STORM, SOME LEADERS HAVE TALKED ABOUT REBUILDING.

DO WE REALLY NEED TO BE REBUILDING IN THESE VULNERABLE PLACES?

AND ISN'T THAT PART OF WHAT'S MAKING INSURANCE SO EXPENSIVE IN OUR STATE?

>>WELL, THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT IS TO ALLOW THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY TO SET THE PRICE OF RISK.

AND THE PROBLEM WE HAVE IN FLORIDA IS WE SUBSIDIZE PEOPLE'S RISK.

SO, LISTEN, YOU CAN BE A MILLIONAIRE HEDGE FUND OWNER, BUY A HOME IN THE KEYS AND SOME SINGLE MOM IN LEON COUNTY WITH TWO KIDS IS GOING TO SUBSIDIZE YOU TO LIVE THERE.

THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME.

SO, LISTEN, IF RATE REFLECTS RISK, THEN WE KIND OF GET AWAY FROM THIS WHOLE IDEA THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO BE INVOLVED SOMEHOW.

BUT WHERE WE ARE INVOLVED IS BY SOCIALIZING THE RISK, BY OFFERING CHEAP CITIZENS PROPERTY INSURANCE AT HALF THE PRICE OF THE PRIVATE MARKET.

>>SENATOR BRANDES, OK, BRENDAN, LET ME START WITH YOU ON THIS ONE.

I MEAN, WHAT KIND OF COST ARE WE LOOKING AT STATE WIDE IN TERMS OF TERMS OF HURRICANE DAMAGE?

>>IT'S A LOT.

THERE'S THERE'S ONE ESTIMATE THAT SAYS IT'S SOMETHING LIKE 42 TO $57 BILLION.

I MEAN YOU CAN COMPARE THAT TO IRMA, WHICH WAS JUST FIVE YEARS AGO.

THAT'S $18 BILLION IN INSURANCE COSTS.

AND AS WE HEARD, THIS IS HAPPENING AS THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY IS NOT VERY STABLE AND ON THE BRINK OF COLLAPSE.

SO THIS IS A HUGE BURDEN TO AN ALREADY PRESSED INDUSTRY.

>>HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE HAD ALREADY BECOME MORE EXPENSIVE, HARDER TO GET IN FLORIDA.

WE HEARD SENATOR BRANDES THERE AND WHAT HE'S PREDICTING NOW IS THAT WHAT WE'RE HEARING BROADLY FROM PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW THE INDUSTRY THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET FORCED INTO CITIZENS, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE A LAST RESORT.

>>IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A LAST RESORT, BUT THAT IS THE CONVERSATION RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THERE THERE HAS SOMEBODY HAS TO COME IN AND DO SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

I THINK ONE OF THE FIRST STORIES I HEARD AFTER WE ALL CAME OUT OF OUR STORM COVERAGE WAS, WELL, HERE GOES THE INSURANCE MARKET IN FLORIDA.

GOOD LUCK GETTING INSURANCE AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT JUST PROPERTY INSURANCE.

WE HAVEN'T EVEN BEGUN THE CONVERSATION ABOUT FLOOD INSURANCE AND ALL THESE SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCES THAT PEOPLE TRULY NEEDED FOR THIS STORM.

IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY COULD REBUILD THEIR LIVES.

>>I MEAN, INSURANCE HAS BEEN SUCH AN ISSUE FOR A WHILE.

I MEAN, THE GOVERNOR'S BLAMED REFORMS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE IN 2007 IN PART, WHICH WAS WHEN THEN GOVERNOR CRIST WAS IN OFFICE AND SENATOR MARCO RUBIO WAS THE WAS THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

HE'S ALSO CRITICIZED CURRENT LAWMAKERS FOR NOT DOING MORE TO TACKLE SORT OF FRIVOLOUS LITIGATION.

AND I'M WONDERING AND WE HEARD SENATOR BRANDES MENTION THAT THERE ABOUT HOW INSURANCE LAWSUITS IN FLORIDA KIND OF STACK UP WITH THE REST OF THE NATION.

WE ARE PRETTY LITIGIOUS HERE.

>>I HEARD - I INTERVIEWED AN INSURANCE AGENT EARLIER THIS WEEK AND HE TOLD ME A MAJORITY OF THE MONEY THAT'S BEING PAID OUT FROM INSURANCE CLAIMS IT'S GOING TO ATTORNEYS IT'S GOING TO LEGAL FEES.

AND SO THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S COSTING AND INFLATING THE MONEY THAT'S BEING PAID OUT RIGHT NOW BY INSURANCE COMPANIES.

I DON'T KNOW THAT HOMEOWNERS ARE NECESSARILY WINNING IN ALL OF THIS AS OPPOSED TO LIKE MAYBE ATTORNEYS AND THE LEGAL FEES THAT THEY'RE THEY'RE CAUSING.

IF YOU TALK TO THE EXPERTS IN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY.

>>INTERESTING.

I MEAN, BRENDAN, I TALKED TO CONGRESSMAN DARREN SOTO, HE'S A DEMOCRAT FROM FROM OSCEOLA COUNTY THIS WEEK.

HE TOLD ME THAT HE AGREES THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS SORT OF COME UP SHORT IN FLORIDA IN DEALING WITH FRAUD AND LAWSUITS.

BUT HE ALSO PINNED SOME OF THE RESPONSIBILITY, AT LEAST OF THAT INACTION ON THE GOVERNOR HIMSELF.

I MEAN, IS IT FAIR CRITICISM, DO YOU THINK, TO SAY THAT GOVERNOR DESANTIS COULD MOVE THE NEEDLE ON THIS MORE IF HE WANTED?

I MEAN, HE'S GOT A PRETTY MALLEABLE LEGISLATURE THERE.

>>ABSOLUTELY.

AND THAT IS BY DESIGN, AS WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING HIM THROUGH THIS ADMINISTRATION, HE HAS A LOT OF SWAY ON THE LEGISLATURE AND THESE SPECIAL SESSIONS SO HE DOES HAVE A LOT OF SWAY.

IT'S FAIR CRITICISM TO SAY THAT HE CAN MOVE THE NEEDLE.

IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF HE DOES MOVE THE NEEDLE IN TRYING TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND PROVIDING STATE ASSISTANCE TO TO ALL OF THESE ISSUES THAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING.

>>AND WHETHER OR NOT HE ACCEPTS SENATOR BRANDES' ADVICE TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION IN NOVEMBER.

I MEAN, DARALENE, PERHAPS A BIGGER ISSUE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA THIS TIME IS THAT MOST HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS POLICIES DO NOT INCLUDE FLOOD INSURANCE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THE WALL STREET JOURNAL DID AN ANALYSIS OF THIS DO NOT HAVE FEDERAL FLOOD INSURANCE AT ALL THROUGHOUT THE STATE, EVEN IN THE SOUTHWEST.

>>NO AND LISTEN, WHEN THIS RAIN WAS COMING DOWN, I REMEMBER TEXTING MY HUSBAND AT ONE POINT, "DO WE HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE?"

WE DON'T.

IT IS NOT JUST THE LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES WHERE YOU WILL FIND PEOPLE WITHOUT LOW WITHOUT FLOOD INSURANCE, PEOPLE ALL ACROSS THE BOARD.

THIS IS JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS PEOPLE DON'T THINK ABOUT.

BUT I GUARANTEE YOU NOW THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE HAPPENING.

BUT I WILL SAY THIS, STEVE.

I - THE SAME INSURANCE AGENT I JUST MENTIONED, INTERVIEWED HIM, I HAD HIM RUN SOME NUMBERS FOR US FOR A STORY WE WERE DOING, RUN THE NUMBERS ON HOW MUCH A POLICY FOR FLOOD INSURANCE WOULD COST.

IN A NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE ORLO VISTA WHERE WE KNOW THEY EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT FLOODING AND THEN LET'S RUN IT ON A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S REALLY NOT LIKELY TO FLOOD EVER AT ALL.

>>YEAH >>THE DIFFERENCE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A $2,300 A YEAR POLICY VERSUS A 3, $400 A YEAR POLICY.

AND PEOPLE MAY SAY, WELL, IT'S WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO SPEND YOUR MONEY ON.

SO MANY PEOPLE ARE LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S THAT IT REALLY IS A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE.

>>A SIGNIFICANT BURDEN FOR SO MANY FAMILIES FOR SURE.

WELL YOU CAN FIND A LINK TO THE FLORIDA CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICERS PAGE ON THE INSURANCE CHANGES PASSED EARLIER THIS SUMMER ON OUR WEBSITE.

IT'S AT WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT WELL, WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE HAS FLOOD INSURANCE, A MAJOR SOURCE OF HELP STILL LIKELY TO COME FROM THE STATE, THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND OF COURSE, FEMA, THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY.

HUNDREDS OF FEMA STAFF HAVE FANNED OUT ACROSS FLORIDA, INCLUDING OUR REGION, TO CONNECT RESIDENTS WITH FEDERAL DISASTER GRANTS IN OUR AREA, PEOPLE IN SEVERAL COUNTIES CAN QUALIFY FOR INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE.

THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS ARE COOPERATING ON EMERGENCY CENTERS WHERE PEOPLE CAN GET STATE HELP AND ALSO APPLY FOR FEMA ASSISTANCE IN ONE PLACE.

I SPOKE THIS WEEK WITH A REPRESENTATIVE FROM FEMA, NOW ON THE GROUND IN CENTRAL FLORIDA ABOUT HOW PEOPLE CAN SEEK FEDERAL HELP.

>>THE FIRST THING THAT SOMEONE SHOULD DO IS CONTACT THEIR INSURANCE COMPANY, OK?

WHETHER IT BE FLOOD INSURANCE AND OR HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IT MAY BE WIND DAMAGE.

AND THAT'S PARTICULARLY TRUE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STATE.

BUT CONTACT THE INSURANCE COMPANY BECAUSE FEMA DOES NOT DUPLICATE INSURANCE COVERAGE WHATEVER IS BEING COVERED BY INSURANCE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO COVER THEN IF IF HOMEOWNERS WANT TO START THE CLEANUP PROCESS, THEY CAN, BUT THEY NEED TO TAKE PICTURES, DOCUMENT EVERYTHING.

IF THERE'S A WATER LINE ON THE INTERIOR, TAKE A PICTURE OF IT BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DOCUMENT EVERYTHING AND SAVE RECEIPTS.

IF YOU WANT TO START THE CLEANUP PROCESS, THEN CONTACT FEMA.

>>SO ON THE FEMA ASSISTANCE, I MEAN, WHAT CAN PEOPLE EXPECT?

>>WHAT FEMA'S GOAL IS, IS TO BRING A HOME BACK TO SAFE AND SANITARY CONDITION, A LIVABLE CONDITION.

THAT'S ALL WE DO.

IF, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU HAD A AN AREA IN YOUR HOME THAT WAS A RECREATION CENTER WITH A BIG SCREEN TV AND A POOL TABLE OR SOMETHING, FEMA'S NOT GOING TO REPLACE THAT.

FEMA - IF YOU HAVE FIVE BEDROOMS IN YOUR HOME, BUT ONLY ONE IS BEING UTILIZED, ONLY ONE BEDROOM IS ESSENTIAL.

SO THEN FEMA'S GOING TO REIMBURSE FOR THE DAMAGE TO ONE BEDROOM.

AND WE ONLY REPLACE THE ESSENTIAL ITEMS, WHICH MAY BE WHICH WOULD BE PERHAPS YOUR FURNACE OR YOUR AIR CONDITIONING UNIT, THE REFRIGERATOR, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

BUT LET ME MENTION THAT IT'S NOT JUST HOMEOWNERS, IT'S ALSO RENTERS WHO CAN APPLY.

RENTERS CAN APPLY FOR THEY CAN'T APPLY FOR THEIR THEIR HOME THAT WOULD BELONG TO THE LANDLORD.

AND THE LANDLORD WOULD BE APPLYING FOR AN SBA LOAN, BUT IT WOULD APPLY TO THE BELONGINGS OF THE OF THE RENTERS.

SO THAT WOULD BE PERSONAL BELONGINGS, YOUR CAR, YOUR FURNITURE, YOUR CLOTHING, MAYBE FOOD THAT IS IN THE REFRIGERATOR, ALTHOUGH THE REFRIGERATOR ITSELF MAY BE THE LANDLORD'S.

>>SO WHAT ARE THE PRACTICALITIES?

HOW CAN PEOPLE APPLY FOR THAT ASSISTANCE?

>>WELL, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WAYS.

FIRST, YOU COULD GO TO THE FEMA APP ON YOUR PHONE.

YOU CAN APPLY THERE.

YOU COULD GO TO DISASTERASSISTANCE.GOV AND APPLY ONLINE.

THAT IS PROBABLY THE EASIEST.

BUT IF IT WERE ME, I WOULD WANT TO APPLY IN PERSON.

SO LOOK FOR WHERE DISASTER RECOVERY CENTERS ARE GOING TO BE LOCATED, THEY'RE NOT OPEN YET.

AND DISASTER SURVIVOR ASSISTANCE TEAMS, THEY'RE LITERALLY GOING DOOR TO DOOR RIGHT NOW, KNOCKING ON DOORS, REGISTERING PEOPLE OR SETTING UP IN A FIRE STATION SOMEWHERE OR IN A CIVIC CENTER SOMEWHERE.

>>JEN TRACY FROM FEMA THERE.

WELL, THERE'S ALSO A FEMA HELPLINE YOU CAN CALL.

THAT'S 1-800-621-3362 AND YOU CAN FIND USEFUL LINKS TO PLACES WHERE YOU CAN GET ASSISTANCE ON OUR WEBSITE.

YOU CAN ALSO FIND MY FULL LENGTH INTERVIEW WITH JEN TRACY FROM FEMA.

IT'S ALL AT WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

DARALENE, DO YOU AGREE THIS IS GOING TO BE THE LONG HAUL, RIGHT?

I MEAN, THESE FEDERAL AGENCIES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE STICKING AROUND FOR A WHILE.

THE PRESIDENT ALLUDED TO THAT.

>>I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THESE REPRESENTATIVES AND COMMUNITIES FOR A LONG TIME BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO THINK THE LAST FEW DAYS WHAT WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH IS JUST GOING AROUND AND ASSESSING WHAT THE NEEDS ARE.

WHEN I WAS IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, THIS WEEK, I SAW THE RED CROSS AND FEMA AGENTS JUST GOING DOOR TO DOOR AND JUST DRIVING AROUND TO SEE, OK, WHAT ARE WE DEALING WITH HERE?

IS THIS YOU KNOW, IS THIS A HOME THAT WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED?

YOU KNOW, DO THEY HAVE MINOR DAMAGE?

AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE STILL THERE NOW.

AND I DON'T THINK THEY'RE DONE WITH THAT PART OF THE PROCESS.

>>YEAH, THOSE FEMA TEAMS ARE ACTUALLY GOING DOOR TO DOOR, AS WE HEARD THE REPRESENTATIVE THERE MENTIONED, SORT OF SEEING WHAT KINDS OF DAMAGE THAT PEOPLE HAVE GOT.

BRENDAN, YOU REPORTED THIS WEEK ON HOW INDIVIDUAL COUNTIES I THINK, SPECIFICALLY SEMINOLE COUNTY HELPING PEOPLE ACCESS THAT FEDERAL INSURANCE.

>>THAT'S RIGHT.

FEMA IS HAVING THESE THESE KIND OF POP UPS THROUGHOUT SEMINOLE COUNTY AND THEY'RE GOING FROM DIFFERENT AREAS.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, THEY WENT TO GENEVA.

THEY'RE GOING TO ALTAMONTE SPRINGS ALL THESE DIFFERENT PLACES.

AND AND MUCH LIKE GOING DOOR TO DOOR, THEY'RE GOING TO SEE WHAT THE NEED IS GOING TO BE AND HAVE THOSE FEMA FOLKS THERE, BECAUSE IT IS A COMPLICATED PROCESS TO SIGN UP.

I'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF REPORTING IN VOLUSIA COUNTY AS WELL IN VOLUSIA COUNTY LIBRARIES THEY'LL HAVE ASSISTANCE FOR YOU TO GO IN AND GET ON THEIR WEBSITE AND HELP, YOU KNOW, APPLY FOR THAT.

AND THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THAT FEMA INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE.

AND THEN ALSO FEMA IS OFFERING EXTENDED STAY AT HOTELS AND STUFF IF YOU'VE BEEN DISPLACED AS WELL.

THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL BENEFIT THAT IS COMING TO THE STATE AS WELL.

BUT FEMA IS GOING AROUND THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE - KNOW WHAT THEY CAN GET AND GIVE THEM SOME ASSISTANCE WITH THAT APPLICATION PROCESS.

>>AND IMPORTANT TO NOTE, THOUGH, OF COURSE, THAT THAT FEMA ASSISTANCE IS NOT INSURANCE.

IT'S NOT GOING TO REPLACE-- >>RIGHT.

>>YOUR WIDESCREEN TV.

>>THIS IS FOR THIS IS FOR UNDERINSURED, YES UNDERINSURANCE AND FOR THAT FOLKS THAT DON'T HAVE INSURANCE.

BUT ALLEN HARRIS, THE EMERGENCY MANAGER IN SEMINOLE COUNTY, SAID JUST GO AHEAD AND APPLY.

EVEN IF YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE ELIGIBLE, IT'S BEST TO JUST APPLY JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT YOU DO GET ALL OF THOSE BENEFITS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU.

>>I'D SAY ALSO READ THE APPLICATION.

>>YES.

IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

AND I WAS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THIS WEEK WHERE I HEARD PEOPLE RUNNING UP "HEY FEMA DENIED ME LOOK," SHOWING ME ON THEIR PHONE AND THEY'VE APPLIED BECAUSE THE FOOD IN THE REFRIGERATOR SPOILED.

WELL, THEY DON'T COVER.

THAT.

YOU KNOW, AND SO YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE READING THE APPLICATION AS YOU GO THROUGH.

>>WFTV HAS REPORTED THIS WEEK AND SINCE THE STORM THAT THE POLICE ARE WARNING ABOUT SCAMS, RIGHT?

TO DO WITH FEMA ASSISTANCE, RESIDENTS BEING TOLD THEY'RE GOING TO PAY FEES WILL APPLY.

THAT'S NOT SOMETHING FEMA ASKS FOR.

>>NO, I MEAN, AND IT'S REALLY IT'S DISGUSTING REALLY IS WHAT IT IS.

THESE SCAMMERS ARE OUT THERE AND THEY ARE GOING TO - THEY ALREADY ARE PREYING ON VERY VULNERABLE PEOPLE, PEOPLE WHO ARE DESPERATE.

WHEN YOU DRIVE AROUND AND YOU SEE PEOPLE SITTING ON THEIR FRONT PORCH, OR IN THEIR DRIVEWAY WITH ONLY A PLASTIC GARBAGE BAG OF THEIR BELONGINGS, AND THEN YOU SEE THESE DISASTER TRUCKS DRIVING AROUND, IT JUST BREAKS YOUR HEART BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE SO DESPERATE, THEY REALLY WILL TAKE WHATEVER HELP THEY CAN GET.

YEAH, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE IN A HEARTBEAT YOU'RE YOU KNOW, YOU COULD LOSE THE LITTLE BIT THAT YOU STILL HAVE.

>>AND THE STATE SAYS TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS HAS BEEN RAISED THROUGH THE FLORIDA DISASTER FUND.

SEPARATE FROM THOSE FEDERAL PROGRAMS.

WHO OVERSEES THAT FUND AND WHO CAN GET MONEY FROM IT?

>>THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

WE DID SOME REPORTING ON THAT THIS WEEK BECAUSE I HAD THE SAME QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS A FUND THAT'S THAT'S BEEN AROUND, IT'S RUN UNDER VOLUNTEER FLORIDA.

IT'S RUN BY A BOARD APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.

THERE IS NO GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT.

IT'S A PRIVATE FUND.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I DID AN INTERVIEW WITH CFO JIMMY PATRONIS THIS WEEK WHERE HE SAID, WELL, AT ANY TIME ANYBODY CAN ASK TO OPEN THE BOOKS.

AND I GUESS THAT'S THE CASE.

BUT THERE IS NO GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY WITH THIS ONE.

AND I THINK I HEARD THIS WEEK IT'S BEING RENAMED THE CACEY DESANTAS FUND OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND SO THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MONEY GOING THERE.

ANOTHER THING IS WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF THAT MONEY IS COMING TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY.

IT IS DISTRIBUTED TO DIFFERENT VENDORS AND ENTITIES THAT THEY SAY QUALIFY AND ARE VETTED, BUT WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OR WHICH CHUNKS OF THAT MONEY ARE ACTUALLY COMING HERE TO CENTRAL FLORIDA.

>>AND THE GOVERNOR HAS SORT OF PAINTED IT AS WELL.

THIS IS MUCH MORE FLEXIBLE THAN FEMA HAS ITS OWN SORT OF RIGID FEDERAL RULES.

AND WE CAN BE MORE NIMBLE IN DISTRIBUTING AID AT THE STATE LEVEL.

BRENDAN, I JUST WANTED TO FINISH WITH SPACE.

WE SAW ANOTHER CRUDE SPACEX FLIGHT THIS WEEK, BUT I WANTED TO ASK YOU WHAT THIS STORM HAS MEANT FOR ARTEMIS IN PARTICULAR, NASA HAD TO ROLL THE SLS BACK TO THE VAB.

WHAT IS THE TIMETABLE NOW ON THAT MOON LAUNCH?

>>IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT LONGER THAN - THAN WE THOUGHT WE'RE LOOKING AT PROBABLY LATE NOVEMBER NOW, NOW THAT IT'S IN THE VAB THEY CAN ACTUALLY DO SOME WORK.

THEY HAVE TO REPLACE SOME BATTERIES, BUT AT LEAST THEY SAVE THE $10 BILLION ROCKET FROM-- >>YES I'D SAY SO >>FROM ALL THE - THE STORMS.

>>THIS ISN'T BAD NEWS THOUGH.

I MEAN GETTING IT BACK IN THE VAB AND JUST-- >>PROBABLY A GOOD IDEA TO GET IT IN THERE TOO.

AND THEY TAKE THEIR TIME TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

BUT A LOT OF FOLKS SAY THAT WAS THE RIGHT DECISION AND I'D HAVE TO AGREE WITH THEM.

>>I'M SURE YOU'LL KEEP OVER THAT ON YOUR PODCAST, "ARE WE THERE YET" FORM 90.7 WMFE NEWS.

WELL, IT'S BEEN A TRYING AND DIFFICULT WEEK FOR MANY PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WE'LL STAY ACROSS IT AND I'M SURE YOU GUYS WILL YOUR OUTLETS AS WELL IN THE WEEKS TO COME.

BUT THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK.

MY THANKS TO BRENDAN BYRNE, 90.7 WMFE NEWS, DARALENE JONES, WFTV CHANNEL NINE.

THANKS FOR COMING IN, GUYS.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 8:30 HERE ON WUCF.

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT NEWSNIGHT, TAKE CARE AND HAVE A GREAT WEEK.