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Legislature Cancels Committee Week Ahead of Irma

Historic Capitol
Tom Flanigan
/
WFSU News

The Florida Legislature is cancelling upcoming committee meetings ahead of Hurricane Irma. Lawmakers’ preparations for the 2018 session will have to wait.

Lawmakers were supposed to return to Tallahassee next week. Discussions on workers comp, sports stadiums, Jefferson County schools and the death penalty were all on the schedule. But because of the potential threat of Hurricane Irma, legislative leaders are putting those meetings on hold.

Instead, committees are slated to meet the week of October 9th. The Capitol and state agencies will be closed Friday September 8th.

Legislative leaders hope lawmakers and their staff will use the time to prepare and support their home districts. In a written statement, Speaker of the House Richard Corcoran encouraged lawmakers to volunteer.

"Earlier today, Governor Scott stated that there is a need for volunteers at shelters throughout the state.  Please be supportive of these efforts if you are near an affected region," Corcoran said.

President of the Senate Joe Negron highlighted the potential threat Irma poses, and the importance of evacuation orders.

"Please use this time to prepare your family and home. The specific trajectory of this unprecedented storm is still uncertain and impacts could vary drastically across the state. All Floridians need to be ready. Staff should monitor local weather advisories and adhere to local evacuation orders," Negron said in a written statement.  

According to NOAA's National Hurricane Center, Irma is the strongest Atlantic Hurricane on record, with maximum sustained winds of 185 miles per hour. As of 5:00 pm on Wednesday September 6th, the National Hurricane Center says "The threat of direct hurricane impacts in Florida over the weekend and early next week has increased. Hurricane watches could be issued for portions of the Florida Keys and the Florida peninsula on Thursday." 

As a Tallahassee native, Kate Payne grew up listening to WFSU. She loves being part of a station that had such an impact on her. Kate is a graduate of the Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts. With a background in documentary and narrative filmmaking, Kate has a broad range of multimedia experience. When she’s not working, you can find her rock climbing, cooking or hanging out with her cat.