~ Awards Nearly $40K to Southwest Florida Firefighters ~

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FORT MYERS, Fla. - Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis was joined by members of the Urban Search & Rescue (US&R) Florida Task Force 6 to urge Floridians to prepare now before the next hurricane takes aim at Florida. There are a total of eight US&R teams statewide that are immediately deployed to aid communities that have been impacted by a natural or man-made disaster. Additionally, the CFO also presented nearly $40,000 in cancer decontamination equipment funding to two fire departments in the Southwest Florida area. A top priority of CFO Patronis during the 2021 Legislative Session, the Cancer Decontamination Grant Program was replenished to help protect the health and safety of firefighters by providing financial aid to mitigate exposure to hazardous, cancer-causing chemicals. In total, the Firefighter Cancer Decontamination Equipment Grant Program will award nearly $500,000 to fire departments statewide.

CFO and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis said, “It was an honor to be in Fort Myers today for two important reasons – to offer a reminder to all Floridians to prepare now for hurricane season and to show our support for the men and women of Florida’s fire service who serve our communities, especially following disasters. Every day, our firefighters are exposed to harmful carcinogens, and in Florida, it is a top priority that we protect these men and women who risk their own lives to protect others. Firefighting isn’t just a job; it’s a calling and I am extremely grateful to the members of US&R Task Force 6, who train year-round to protect Floridians when a disaster strikes. This dedicated team of first responders run towards a storm to save families in the aftermath of a hurricane. Last year, we saw one of the most destructive storms in our state’s history and these brave heroes worked tirelessly to save lives. It is critical that Floridians do not wait to prepare for hurricane season. Visit PrepareFL.com for hurricane and disaster related information and resources before the next storm takes aim at Florida.”

Southwest Florida Firefighter Cancer Decontamination Equipment Grant Program Awards:

• Okeechobee County Fire Rescue - $5,625
• Avon Park - $34,039.50
  

USAR Team 6 Program Manager Shane Sibert said, “Preparation is key when it comes to ensuring the safety of your home and family during hurricane season. Having the supplies on hand and following alerts of local emergency professionals could save your life. Without a doubt, we are grateful for the skill and expertise of Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 6 who run towards danger to provide life-saving resources. A huge thank you to CFO Patronis for recognizing our first responders today and bringing awareness to the importance of hurricane season preparedness.”

Bernie Bernoska, Florida Professional Firefighters President said, “Whether it’s responding to a call following a hurricane or the increased risk of developing cancer, Florida’s firefighters put themselves in harm’s way to keep Floridians safe every day. I am grateful to stand beside a partner like CFO Patronis to support our firefighters and paramedics and to ensure Floridians are prepared for hurricane season.”

Chief Andy Marcy, Avon Park Fire Department said, “I would like to thank CFO Patronis for his efforts in bringing awareness and relief to the reality of cancer among firefighters. Decontamination is essential for all of us who are in this line of work. It helps to keep us from contributing to the alarming rates of firefighter cancer, and I am hopeful that it will save lives.” 

Chief Earl Wooten, Okeechobee County Fire Rescue said, “It’s an honor to stand with CFO Patronis today as he shows a real commitment to cancer decontamination. If you work as a fire professional, one of the sad realities is that we all know someone within the profession who has suffered from cancer. It is essential, that we continue to do everything we can to provide relief from this horrible disease for firefighters. I am just so thankful that we have leadership in Florida that is looking out for us.”

State Fire Marshal Director JoAnne Rice said, “Thank you CFO Patronis for your continued support and  commitment to the health and safety of Florida firefighters. While cancer accounts for 75% of firefighter Line of Duty Deaths it is essential that we continue to support and ensure that every firefighter has the tools they need to help prevent them from getting cancer. Knowing the risks, firefighters continue to come to work every day to protect and serve their communities.  I am grateful for their service and we will continue to fight this fight together. Also as the CFO said, hurricane season is here and everyone needs to do their part to prepare and ensure you have a plan in place to protect you and your families. By having a plan in place and following it our brave firefighters won’t have to come rescue you.”

Carmine Marceno, Lee County Sheriff said, “Hurricane season is upon us, and we all have to make sure that we have a plan. I would like to thank CFO Patronis for his commitment to making sure that all Floridians have the tools necessary to make a plan for hurricane season.”

Mark Schrader, City Manager, City of Avon Park said, “I would like to extend my thanks to CFO and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis. With his commitment to cancer decontamination, it really shows his commitment to our professional firefighters. It has been shown that cancer is a leading cause of death among firefighters, and that firefighters are at a higher risk for some types of cancers, when compared to the general population; therefore, it is very inspiring to see Florida leadership that is looking to make a difference with this issue.”

Roger Desjarlais, Lee County County Manager said, “Throughout the history of firefighting, we have constantly seen the devastating impact of cancer on these heroes. We must do everything that we can to make sure that these men and women are protected from this disease. Thank you, CFO Jimmy Patronis, for investing time and effort to make sure that cancer decontamination is a priority for all Florida Firefighters.” 

Kevin Ruane, Lee County Commissioner said, “The occupation of a firefighter is truly one of the most honorable and selfless pursuits. Whenever there is a fire, these men and women have our backs, so we must have theirs. Thank you, CFO Patronis, for putting in the work to make sure that these heroes are taken care of, so that we don’t lose any more of them to this horrible disease.” 

Ray Sandelli, Lee County Commissioner said, “A sincere thank you to CFO Patronis for coming to Ft. Myers and recognizing our hard-working first responders. These men and women are the first boots on the ground following a disaster and they deserve all the support we can give them.”

Dan Allers, Mayor of Fort Myers Beach said, “It was an honor to be joined by CFO Jimmy Patronis in Fort Myers today. I would like to thank him for highlighting our first responders and brining awareness to hurricane season. We saw one of the worst storms in history last year, and the last thing we need is another storm. We are hoping for the best, but we will be prepared for the worst.”

Representative Spencer Roach said, “Southwest Florida residents know all too well what it’s like to rebuild after a hurricane. There is no time to waste when it comes to ensuring you and your family are ready if Florida finds itself in a storm’s path. I do know that if we are hit with a storm this year, CFO Patronis will be boots on the ground helping our communities recover. I appreciate his commitment to encourage Floridians to prepare for the storm season, as well as the exceptional members of US&R Task Force 6 who risk their lives to help their fellow Floridians.”

Representative Adam Botana said, “Thank you, CFO Patronis, for continuing to put the spotlight on Hurricane Preparedness. Last year we saw one of the most devastating storms in the history of the state with Hurricane Ian. It showed the unpredictable destruction of these storms at the highest level, and it should remind all of us that we must prepare now. You cannot put it off until the storm is coming, get a plan in place for you and your family now.”

Todd Fountain, GM Emergency Operations, Duke Energy said, “We all hope to see minimal storm activity this hurricane season, but it is essential to be prepared for the worst. After these storms, people will often find themselves stuck without power or cell service, and while we will work around the clock to restore power, you need to make sure that you have everything you need to sustain yourself. Thank you, CFO Patronis, for getting the word out on preparing now. It is great to have leadership that cares.”

Timothy O’Connor, vice president of operations, sustainability and external affairs for TECO Peoples Gas said, “Our company prepares and stands ready year-round for severe weather. We support CFO Patronis and our Urban Search and Rescue teams in calling for Floridians to establish a plan for this hurricane season and to keep a plan for disasters that could occur any time of year. We are thankful that CFO Patronis, Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 6, and our first responders across Florida are always prepared to respond in the wake of disasters.”

Casey Reed, Vice President - Governmental Affairs and Policy, AT&T Florida said, “AT&T has the experience and expertise to restore communications in the event of a hurricane, but it is essential that you are making storm preparations right now. Even if you find yourself without cell service, what really matters is that you have food, water, batteries, and other essentials. I would like to thank CFO Patronis for hosting today’s event. I truly hope that Floridians take your words to heart and prepare now.” 

Nicole Hudnet, T-Mobile for Business said, “T-Mobile has been preparing year-round to minimize network impact and increase recovery speed to keep people connected when it's needed the most. This past year, T-Mobile increased its heavy-duty disaster response satellite vehicles by 50 percent and added more backup power at more sites than ever before. Following disasters, the Un-carrier network and community support teams will be ready to deploy cutting-edge response assets – vehicles, 5G drones, command centers and other tools – that will deliver connectivity, Wi-Fi and other supplies to customers, local residents and first responders.”

Eric Lia, Vice President of Network Engineering and Operations for Verizon said, “We know reliable communications are critical, especially in times of weather emergencies. Our network is built with industry leading resiliency and reliability to minimize the impact of severe weather and speed the recovery work after the weather has passed. We invest heavily and train relentlessly to be ready for rapid-recovery scenarios. We are ready to support Floridians before, during and after storms."