LOC00:06
21:06 GMT
WASHINGTON, Sept 11 (KUNA) -- Although it is still too early to get a complete assessment of the damage caused by hurricane Irma, the US federal government is giving a "considerable amount" of focus to Jacksonville, Florida and the Keys.
Jacksonville has suffered "some of the worst flooding it has seen in years," White House National Security advisor Tom Bossert told reporters Monday.
Despite that the storm weakened faster than expected, Irma's impact on Jacksonville replicated that of a Category III storm due to the combined storm surge and wind.
As for the Keys' rebuilding efforts, it is "going to take a while. We have not assessed the structural damage of the bridges. I would expect that the Keys are not fit for re-entry for regular citizenry for weeks," he added.
For the over five million Floridians without power, line-restoration workers from "every company in this country, from states all over the country, but also from Canada," are coming to restore electricity, Bossert said.
The feds ordered the "largest ever" mobilization of the US military in a naval and Marine operation to assist Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
As part of the reconstruction efforts, President Donald Trump remains "committed to making sure that federal dollars aren't used to rebuild things that will be in harm's way later, or that won't be hardened against the future predictable floods," Bossert said.
Meanwhile, Florida Governor Rick Scott stressed in a separate briefing that the state's biggest threat is river flooding. While on the west coast the damage was not as bad as previously predicted.
Today, search and rescue missions are underway but in the keys it's going to be a long road because of extensive damage.
Almost every trailer park is "overturned" and 65 percent of the state is without power.
"It's going to take a long time," Scott said noting that officials are doing everything they can to get fuel to depleted areas.
Tropical Storm Irma is now hammering Charleston, South Carolina where flash flood warnings have been issued. It is then expected to travel north to hit Georgia and Alabama. (pickup previous)
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