Jim Turner - News Service of Florida

Shawn Hamilton's decision comes after Gov. Ron DeSantis and the department drew criticism in August about a proposal to put golf courses, resort-style lodges and pickleball courts in state parks. State official Alexis Lambert takes over.

It's estimated Milton caused between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion in damages on top of more than $1.5 billion from Idalia, Debby and Helene.

Outgoing Senate President says "a whole new philosophy of reconstruction and resilience and resiliency in our state" will need to be discussed when lawmakers meet in March.

He said the state doesn't have a gas shortage as lines formed and ran out amid the large number of people evacuating.

Incoming Senate President Ben Albritton, a Wauchula Republican and citrus grower, said the conditions are worse than Hurricane Idalia, which resulted in $400 million in damage to the industry.

State Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie implored people not involved in recovery efforts to stay off the roads as authorities conducted search-and-rescue efforts amid debris and dissipating storm surge.

A state official said workers are remaining at jobs longer than they did a few years ago.

Preliminary findings could mean the agricultural damages from Debby were close to losses from Hurricane Idalia, a Category 3 storm that roared across the same rural region nearly a year earlier.

Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday the state needs to investigate the apparent attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump this weekend in Palm Beach County, alongside a federal probe.

Craig Fugate referred to Hurricane Ian's impact on Fort Myers. He said it's causing an affordable housing crisis and pricing people out of their communities.