ST. PETERSBURG – Governor DeSantis Slams Developer in Crane Disaster After Hurricane Milton Ravages City: “Common Sense Should Prevail!”

St. Petersburg, Florida – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis expressed his disappointment at the aftermath caused by a fallen crane following Hurricane Milton, emphasizing the need for more precaution from developers in ensuring the safety of heavy equipment during extreme weather conditions. The incident occurred at a downtown high-rise that suffered severe damage as a result of the crane collapse. DeSantis made these remarks during a news conference where state officials provided updates on the recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton.

The crane fell from the Residences at 400 Central, a 46-story skyscraper under construction across from the Tampa Bay Times’ office. The developer of the project, the Red Apple Group, stated that they are working with general contractors and crane subcontractors to initiate debris removal. Despite the incident, the company believes that the 400 Central building was not significantly damaged. The developer also did not address DeSantis’ comments about the need for better safety measures regarding cranes during storms.

Following the crane collapse, no injuries were reported at the site, and occupants of the building were safely evacuated. St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch had previously advised residents living near construction sites with cranes to relocate due to concerns about crane toppling during strong winds. The city official confirmed that the crane at 400 Central was designed to withstand up to 110 mph winds, but a section of the crane still snapped off during the storm.

State emergency management director Kevin Guthrie criticized the developer for not taking adequate precautions, indicating that local building officials should have ensured the safety of permitted work. Guthrie highlighted that it is not the government’s role to oversee every aspect of safety measures but emphasized the importance of local authorities taking appropriate action to secure construction sites during severe weather conditions.

In addition to addressing the crane incident, officials also provided updates on power restoration efforts post-Hurricane Milton. Thousands of Floridians were without electricity, with power companies working to restore service by fixing downed lines. Despite the challenges, the restoration process was expected to be completed within a few days rather than weeks, according to Duke Energy Florida President Melissa Seixas.

The aftermath of Hurricane Milton also revealed damages to Tropicana Field, with winds causing the roof to tear and expose cots laid out on the baseball field. State officials set up a base camp at the stadium to support emergency response efforts, but confusion arose regarding the cots and their ownership. However, it was clarified that the cots were not related to the state’s emergency response efforts, and plans were adjusted based on the forecasted storm impacts.

The incidents following Hurricane Milton in St. Petersburg raised concerns about the safety protocols for construction sites during extreme weather events and the effectiveness of emergency response strategies in mitigating damages. As recovery efforts continue, authorities are assessing the lessons learned to enhance preparedness for future natural disasters in the region.