Ron DeSantis said he “has not confirmed” the deaths of four people reportedly killed by a tornado in St. Lucie County on Wednesday, ahead of Hurricane Milton’s landfall.

Florida’s governor said that “that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.”

He continued: “There is a process by which this happens with the state. I know with the tornadoes it seems very likely that there were, that there were some.

“As far as tornadoes go, those are the only reports we’ve received. No confirmations. I imagine there will be some confirmations, but it’s too early to say.”

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has activated a small business emergency bridge program, with $50 million available to distribute as loans to small businesses.

“We have 50 million available for small businesses in Florida, and it’s a no-interest loan, with very flexible repayment options,” he said during a briefing Thursday morning.

“You can apply for loans of up to $50,000 through the program. Loans of up to $100,000 are available for small agricultural and aquaculture operations, and loans of up to $150,000 are available for citrus and livestock operations.”

“Standing storm water can also contain bacteria that can lead to fatal infections,” Ron DeSantis said.

“This type of infection was responsible for a fatality after Hurricane Helene, so please do not wade through standing water.”

The governor’s warning comes after the Florida Department of Health previously warned residents to avoid heavily flooded areas due to the risk of Vibrio infections.

Exposure to the bacteria (often through open wounds or ingestion), which lives in coastal waters, can cause the disease vibriosis. The vibrio infection can cause watery diarrhea, vomiting, blistering of the skin and discharge if the wounds become infected.

“The Florida Department of Health (Department) urges residents and visitors to avoid flooding and avoid exposure to Vibrio in anticipation of flooding and heavy rains caused by Hurricane Milton,” the Florida Department of Health said in a statement Tuesday. declaration.

About 1 in 5 people with this infection die, sometimes within a day or two of becoming ill, the Center for Disease and Control Prevention says on its website.

“Use caution when inspecting damage and clearing hazards,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said during a press conference on Thursday morning.

“We have post-storm fatalities almost every storm, and many of these fatalities are avoidable, so be careful with downed power lines.”

He continued: “Don’t touch them. Do not remove tree debris that may have become entangled in downed power lines. Standing water can hide power lines and other hazards. So be careful and never walk through storm water.”

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DeSantis announced that dozens of search and rescue missions have been completed, rescuing more than 48 residents across Florida.

“State search and rescue teams report that at least 48 persons have been rescued as of 6:30 am. National Guard search and rescue teams worked overnight and successfully rescued families and pets on the West Coast and from tornado destruction in eastern, central and eastern Florida.”

“The (Florida National Guard) continues to work into the morning and has 31 rescue aircraft operational, and hundreds of rescuers are involved in more than 125 active missions in 26 different counties,” DeSantis said.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis shared his relief that “this was not the worst case scenario” for Florida in the wake of Hurricane Milton, which slammed into the state’s west coast on Wednesday evening.

“Fortunately, this was not the worst-case scenario,” the governor said at a news conference Thursday morning.

“The storm weakened before making landfall, and overall, as initially reported, the storm surge has not been as significant as what was observed with Hurricane Helene.”

Four people in St. Lucie County were killed by tornadoes spawned by Hurricane Milton ahead of landfall, officials said.

Sheriff Keith Pearson previously confirmed there had been “several deaths” since a dozen tornadoes emerged in St Lucie County within just 20 minutes.

One struck the Spanish Lakes Country Club retirement community in Fort Pierce, resulting in several fatalities, Pearson said.