Alex Sink

I am finding I get lots of good info to pass on by getting on the mailing lists of particularly competent politicians. Here is some info from Florda CFO Alex Sink regarding the recent storms in Florida. I hope this is helpful for anyone who has been affected or knows someone who has been affected.

CFO SINK, TOURING STORM-HIT AREA, PROVIDES UPDATE ON SEARCH EFFORTS, LOCATION OF CONSUMER ASSISTANCE SITES

Florida’s Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Alex Sink, who Friday afternoon toured the storm-ravaged Central Florida area with Governor Charlie Crist and Attorney General Bill McCollum, said search and rescue crews are reporting they have completed a primary search of impacted areas and are now conducting secondary searches.

CFO Sink also said that the Department of Financial Services, Division of Consumer Services, is now traveling into the area to set up mobile consumer assistance units in The Villages, Lady Lake, DeLand and Port Orange and expects to have those operating by 8 a.m. Saturday, and will be open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. The department’s storm hotline, 1-800-22-STORM (1-800-227-8676) will remain in operation on Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“The damage is widespread and significant,” CFO Sink reported as she toured the area. “But our department is geared up to respond to this kind of devastation and we will be there for as long as it takes to make sure these storm victims get the help they need.”

One of the predictions made by most climate models is that we will see increased storminess as warming continues. Florida's Chief Financial Officer (yes, Florida has a CFO!), Democrat Alex Sink, has this in her eViews newsletter that our Florida readers might be interested in:

SINK ANNOUNCES FREE COURSES SCHEDULED FOR CONTRACTORS INTERESTED IN MY SAFE FLORIDA HOME PROGRAM

Alex Sink, Florida’s chief financial officer, announced that free courses will be offered to licensed contractors who are interested in participating in the My Safe Florida Home program. The four-hour course will teach contractors the techniques and standards for effective wind-resistant retrofit improvements.

“Our mission is to strengthen homes in Florida against the devastating effects of storm damage,” said Sink, who oversees the Department of Financial Services. “Contractors who participate in this program will play a key role in better protecting families and properties from catastrophic losses.”

Prior to participating in the program, a contractor must have a valid contractor’s license and complete a four-hour course on techniques and standards for effective wind-resistant retrofit improvements. The Department of Financial Services has been working with the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) to offer these courses around the state, and upcoming contractor trainings have been scheduled in the following areas: