Hurricane Matthew deals blow to political plans

By JIM TURNER
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, October 4, 2016.......... With political appearances and conferences being called off and courthouses planning to close, the massive Hurricane Matthew was already having an effect Tuesday as it loomed over the southeastern horizon.

After Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet decided Monday to cancel a meeting so the governor could focus on the storm, more events were dropped from calendars Tuesday as the hurricane threatened the state.

Events postponed or canceled included a planned trip Wednesday by President Barack Obama to Miami Gardens to campaign for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton; a three-day Ivanka Trump "women for Trump" bus tour that was slated to start Wednesday in Doral and travel to Naples, Sarasota, Tampa and Orlando; and a fundraising event scheduled Thursday at FrogBones family shooting center in Melbourne for state Senate candidate Debbie Mayfield.

"Please stay safe," tweeted Mayfield, a Republican House member from Vero Beach.

The storm also took out a debate planned for Wednesday at Palm Beach State College between Congressional District 18 candidates Randy Perkins, a North Palm Beach Democrat, and Brain Mast, a Stuart Republican. The debate sponsors said they were working with the campaigns to reschedule.

The Florida Supreme Court, while monitoring the storm, announced that the 4th District Court of Appeal in West Palm Beach will close at 1 p.m. Wednesday and remain closed Thursday and Friday, while the 3rd District Court of Appeal in Miami plans to be closed Thursday.

Also, trial courts in Indian River, Palm Beach, Martin, Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties are slated to shut down at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday and stay closed on Thursday.

The threat of Matthew forced the influential business-lobbying group Associated Industries of Florida to cancel its annual conference, which was slated to run Wednesday and Thursday at the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel in Orlando.

"A number of high-profile presenters indicated early this morning that they would be unable to attend, as they need to focus on their duties during this emergency threat," Kristen Bridges, senior vice president of Bascom Communications & Consulting, informed conference attendees in an email Tuesday.

Scott was among a list of expected speakers that also included U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and state Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater. The event is expected to be rescheduled.

Scott on Monday declared a state of emergency for all of Florida.

"If Matthew directly impacts Florida there will be massive destruction that we haven't seen in years," Scott warned during an appearance Tuesday at Volusia County Emergency Management in Daytona Beach.

Matthew, with 145 mph sustained winds, made landfall Tuesday in Haiti.

The north-to-northwest moving storm is expected to impact Florida with heavy rains, rip currents, beach erosion, tornadoes and hurricane-force winds, from the upper Keys to Jacksonville, starting on Wednesday, Scott said.

About 200 members of the Florida National Guard will be activated to support hurricane-preparedness and response efforts, with more than 6,000 guard members ready to be deployed, Scott said.

During a declared state of emergency, businesses may not drastically increase prices on essential commodities like food, gas, water and hotel rooms.

In preparation for Matthew, Attorney General Pam Bondi activated the state's price-gouging hotline.

"So many good people in our country want to help, and want to give, and want to do the right thing," she said. "Sadly, there are scammers out there. They are going to take advantage of any crisis, when anyone is in a time of need."