WFSU-FM

From the State Capitol, WFSU Public Media brings you Capital Report.

Local elected people and public policy wonks seem to agree Florida's Amendment 3 will decapitate city and county services.

So we'd have about $3.5 million left over to fund everything else we do.

[singing] If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow, why, oh, why can't I?

I'm Zoe Thomas.

You're listening to Capital Report from WFSU Public Media.

I'm Tom Flanigan.

Finally, this week, Governor Ron DeSantis faced backlash at a news conference in Milton this morning from local residents over the state's response to Hurricane Isaias, a Category 2 storm that slammed the Panhandle a week ago.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis says the state's death toll from Hurricane Isaias has now risen to six.

Regan McCarthy of member station WFSU reports.

Governor Ron DeSantis says most of the deaths came after the storm passed, but he says they're related to actions taken because of the storm's damage, including debris cleanup, misuse of a generator, a traffic crash at a stoplight that wasn't working, and delayed medical care.

The way Florida's typically done this is it's not just if, uh, if the storm knocks over your house and, and, and somebody's, somebody gets killed for that, that's count.

The then-category two storm caused a number of problems, including in Tallahassee, where officials say about twenty-five thousand people lost power.

Regan McCarthy of member station WFSU says one resident and his family were trapped in their home by a downed power line.

As wind and rain from Isaías blew through the area, a tree on Daniel Van Meter's property fell, bringing a power line with it and smashing his family's van.

Van Meter says the power went out quickly, then the electricity came back on.

The then Category 2 storm had widespread impacts, including in Tallahassee, where officials say about twenty-five thousand people lost power.

Regan McCarthy of member station WFSU tells us one resident says he and his family were trapped in their home by a downed power line.

As wind and rain from Isaias blew through the area, a tree on Daniel Van Meter's property fell, bringing a power line with it and smashing his family's van.

Van Meter says the power went out quickly, then the electricity came back on.

In Mexico Beach, Florida, the locals say Isaias reminds them of another hurricane that hit their community eight years ago as a Category Five storm.

Randy Vucksta with member station WFSU reports.

As Isaias continues to head towards landfall, Mel Smigelski, Mexico Beach city administrator, says community members are feeling nervous.

He says in years past, a hurricane may have been excused for a party, but this time-