Memorandum
DATE: September 3, 2004
TO: Interested Media
FROM: Jill Bratina, Governor's Communications Director
RE: Letter to Governors of area states, requesting assistance for recovery efforts from Hurricane Frances.

Please find attached the letter to Governors of 17 area states requesting assistance for the recovery efforts from Hurricane Frances. The states include: Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Illinois, Mississippi, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Alabama, Georgia, West Virginia and Missouri.

If you need further assistance please call the Governor's Press Office at 850-488-5394.

 

September 2, 2004

The Honorable Bob Riley
Governor
State of Alabama
State Capitol
600 Dexter Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36130-2751

Dear Governor Riley:

As Florida prepares for Hurricane Frances and continues to recover from Hurricane Charley, I am writing to seek the assistance of your State.

More specifically, after Hurricane Charley, one of our neighboring states issued an executive order, authorizing its state agencies to

issue and provide permits for vehicles transporting emergency equipment, services and supplies by or on behalf of the Florida Division of Emergency Management and its contractors. That a maximum gross vehicle weight of 95,000 pounds on a five axle, truck tractor, semi-trailer for hauling emergency equipment, services and supplies shall be permitted to travel on all state maintained roadways unless it is a posted bridge. The outer bridge span of the five axle, truck tractor, semi-trailer shall not be less than 51 feet, and the vehicle's overall length shall not exceed 100 feet or height of 13 feet, 6 inches. Anything greater than 8 feet, 6 inches wide and less than or equal to 14 feet wide may travel during daylight hours only beginning 30 minutes after sunrise; ending 30 minutes before sunset. Transporters are responsible to ensure that they have proper oversize signs, markings, flags and escorts as defined in the state's rules and regulations. Permits shall be valid for a 30 day period from the date of this order.

Because this directive has facilitated our relief efforts, we are appreciative of their cooperation.

In anticipation of the catastrophic disaster that Florida will face after Hurricane Frances, I request that your State take similar action. In addition, I also request that you direct your agencies to allow vehicles transporting emergency equipment, services and supplies by or on behalf of the Florida Division of Emergency Management and its contractors to by-pass weigh stations in your State. By taking these measures, the victims of both Hurricane Frances and Hurricane Charley will receive emergency assistance from other States as quickly as possible.

Thank you in advance for your consideration of this request. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call me directly, or your office may contact my General Counsel, Raquel Rodriguez, at (850) 488-3494.

Sincerely,

Jeb Bush

cc: Raquel Rodriguez, General Counsel

 

 

 

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