Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended his presidential campaign to deal with a crisis in his home state of Florida — and had an icy warning for would-be looters trying to take advantage of the destruction caused by Hurricane Idalia.
DeSantis said he was shocked by Taylor County sheriff reports of looting in the town of Steinhatchee, which took a direct hit from the deadly storm.
“I told all the personnel at the state level: ‘You protect people’s property,’ and we are not going to tolerate any looters in the aftermath of a natural disaster,” DeSantis said on Wednesday.
“I mean, it is just ridiculous that you would do something like that on the heels of an almost Category 4 hurricane hitting this community,” he said. “I also want to remind potential looters: You never know what you are walking into.”
“People have a right to defend their property,” DeSantis continued. “This part of Florida, you got a lot of advocates and proponents of the Second Amendment.”
“I’ve seen signs in different people’s yards in the past after these disasters, and I would say probably here: ‘You loot. We shoot.’”
“You never know what’s behind that door if you break into somebody’s house and you’re trying to loot — these are people who are going to be able to defend themselves and their families,” the governor said.
DeSantis is staying in the state capital of Tallahassee to help lead the Idalia recovery. He urged Floridians to listen to the advice of emergency managers.
Rescue and repair efforts continued in the areas the storm passed Wednesday and there was no immediate word on the toll from the ferocious winds and inundating waters, but authorities counted at least two deaths.
Asked directly if he would be in Florida earlier this week, Ron DeSantis responded, “I’m here. I’m here.”
“We’re locked in on this; we’re going to get the job done. This is important. So people can rest assured,” the governor said, added that the state had staged personnel and equipment to prepare for the storm.
The governor himself wasn’t spared from the destruction.
A 100-year-old tree was felled at the governor’s mansion, DeSantis’ wife Casey reported on social media.
Take a look —
100 year old oak tree falls on the Governor’s Mansion in Tallahassee — Mason, Madison, Mamie and I were home at the time, but thankfully no one was injured.
Our prayers are with everyone impacted by the storm. pic.twitter.com/l6MOE8wNMC
— Casey DeSantis (@CaseyDeSantis) August 30, 2023
The Horn editorial team