Orlando

Gov. Scott Directs FDOT to Implement Evacuation and Fuel Capacity Improvements During Emergencies

Published

7 years ago

February 2, 2018

ORLANDO, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott directed the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to implement both immediate and long-term improvements to help Florida residents, businesses and visitors during emergencies. Following Hurricane Irma, Governor Scott directed FDOT to begin examining ways to help expedite evacuation routes from the I-75/ Florida Turnpike Interchange near Wildwood to the Florida-Georgia border, as well as ways to increase fuel capacity during state storm emergencies. The improvements FDOT is adopting are based on the findings of these reports.

Governor Scott said, “As Florida continues to recover from Hurricane Irma, the largest storm to impact our state in modern history, it is critically important that we continue to do all we can to make sure our state is fully prepared in the face of any potential disaster. Last fall, I directed FDOT to examine ways to improve evacuations and fuel capacity and following the completion of these reports, I have directed the agency to implement short and long-term improvements that will help protect our families and visitors. These improvements will ensure that Florida continues to be a national leader in emergency management and solely focused on keeping families safe.”

Short-term evacuation-related improvements to be implemented no later than June at the direction of Governor Scott include:

Expanding Emergency Shoulder Use (ESU) along key interstate routes;
Beginning installation of cameras and dynamic message signs on I-75 from Ocala to the Georgia state line; and
Increasing the department’s Florida 511 website system to accommodate increased usage.

Long-term evacuation-related improvements to be implemented at the direction of Governor Scott include:

Completing the I-75/Turnpike interchange construction in 2019;
Beginning construction to widen Florida’s Turnpike to six lanes from the Lake/Sumter county line to the CR 468 interchange in 2023 and from the CR 468 interchange to I-75 in 2025; and
Studying the deployment of traffic management tools along the US 19/98/27 route for emergency evacuation.

Short-term fuel-related improvements to be implemented no later than July at the direction of Governor Scott include:

Working with the Division of Emergency Management (DEM) and law enforcement to identify critical gas stations along state evacuation routes and plan for more efficient fuel service during emergencies;
Assessing options for expanding fuel capacity at existing department owned facilities for first responders; and
Coordinating with neighboring states on a communications plan on the movement of oversize and overweight vehicles during emergencies.

Long-term fuel-related improvements to be implemented at the direction of Governor Scott include:

Assessing options for additional fuel storage and dispensing at fuel terminals in collaboration with Florida Ports and the fuel industry.

To view the full FDOT reports, please see the links below:

Hurricane Irma – Emergency Evacuation Report and Recommendations

Hurricane Irma’s Effect on Florida’s Fuel Distribution System and Recommended Improvement

Related Topics:FDOT Governor Rick Scott Hurricane Maria

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Golf

Russell Henley Wins Red Cardigan at 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational

Published

2 months ago

March 9, 2025

Mike Brodsky

Russell Henley wins the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational (Photo credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News)

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN Sports) – Russell Henley wins his first red cardigan at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, today, along with $4 million of the $20 million prize pool. The red cardigan was first awarded in 2017, in memory of Arnold Palmer who passed the year before. This is Henley’s fifth win on the PGA Tour.

Russell Henley is greeted by his family on the 18th green after winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational (Photo credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News)

Henley finished at 11 under par for the four day tournament, carding a 70 today. Collin Morikawa finished in second place at 10 under par. API defending champion, Scottie Scheffler, finished today at 4 under par, tied for 11th place.

Scottie Scheffler tees off at the Arnold Palmer Invitational (Photo Credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News)

This coming week, the top golfers head to TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra, for The Players Championship. The winner will walk away with $4.5 million of the $25 million up for grabs. This is the PGA Tour’s largest regular season purse. Stay tuned to www.FloridaNationalNews.com for more.

NFL

UCF Hall of Fame Inductee Shaquem Griffin Launches Search For Greatness Combine With Joey Grant and GMTM

Published

7 months ago

October 30, 2024

Mike Brodsky

UCF Hall of Fame Inductee Shaquem Griffin Launches Search For Greatness Combine With Joey Grant and GMTM

Former UCF football players Shaquem Griffin and Joey Grant have partnered with GMTM to launch their Search for Greatness Combine at UCF on Saturday, November 9th. They’re giving local athletes a chance to showcase their talents and explore new sports opportunities. Griffin will be inducted into the UCF Hall of Fame on Saturday, November 2nd, during halftime of the Arizona vs. UCF football game. He is remembered for his tenacity, setting an NFL Combine record with the fastest 40-yard dash by a linebacker, and playing four seasons in the NFL, overcoming the challenge of only having one hand. He is now training to make the USA Paralympic Track and Field Team and hopes to compete in the 2028 Olympics. Joey Grant, the co-founder and CEO of GMTM, is a former UCF team captain, playing mostly Center for the Knights from 2011-2015.

Participation at the upcoming combine is free and invite-only, targeting athletes over the age of 18. To be considered, athletes must submit a highlight video via GMTM’s platform, showcasing their athleticism. GMTM will evaluate submissions and invite the most promising athletes to participate in the combine. The goal for this year’s event is to get 1,000 athletes to submit videos and be part of the combine process. Athletes chosen will receive personalized invites with further instructions, including event time slots and details. The athletes will be evaluated for their key athletic traits, to identify opportunities for them across multiple Olympic sports or professional sports programs. To learn more, or to apply for the combine, visit: https://gmtm.com/articles/the-search-for-greatness-at-ucf-with-shaquem-griffin-what-you-need-to-know.

Florida National News spoke with Shaquem and Joey about the combine, college football in the era of NIL and the transfer portal, and Griffin’s hall of fame induction. You can watch the full interview here:

Shaquem Griffin and Joey Grant interview

Stay tuned to www.FloridaNationalNews.com and www.FloridaSportsChannel.com for more.

Florida

Scottie Scheffler Wins Second Red Cardigan at 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational

Published

1 year ago

March 10, 2024

Mike Brodsky

Photo credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN Sports) – Scottie Scheffler wins his second red cardigan at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, today, along with $4 million of the $20 million prize pool. The red cardigan was first awarded in 2017, in memory of Arnold Palmer who passed the year before. Scheffler first won the API in 2022.

Scottie Scheffler wins the Arnold Palmer Invitational. (Photo credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News)

The number one ranked golfer in the world, Scheffler finished at 15 under par for the four day tournament, carding a 66 today. Wyndham Clark finished in second place at 10 under par. API defending champion, Kurt Kitayama, did not make the cut, this weekend, finishing 7 over par after the first two rounds on Thursday and Friday.

This coming week, the top golfers head to TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra, for the 50th anniversary of The Players Championship. The winner will walk away with $4.5 million of the $25 million up for grabs. This is the PGA Tour’s largest regular season purse. Stay tuned to www.FloridaNationalNews.com for more.