A leading 2024 presidential hopeful has paused his campaign with an eye on helping with the restoration efforts in the state he leads after a devastating hurricane.
Here’s a look at what Governor Ron DeSantis had to say about the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia.
What Happened: Hurricane Idalia reached the coast of Florida on Wednesday morning and was confirmed to be a Category 3 storm.
Winds reaching 130 miles per hour from the storm inflicted extensive damage across multiple regions of Florida. Residents in areas that were expected to get hit had evacuation orders prior to its arrival.
The storm has claimed at least two lives due to accidents caused by intense rainfall in the region.
On Wednesday, DeSantis addressed both the press and Florida residents, offering guidance.
“Don’t put your life at risk by doing anything dumb at this point. This thing’s powerful. If you’re inside, just hunker down until it gets past you,” he said.
The Florida governor not only issued a safety warning but also had strong words for those intending to engage in unlawful activities in the storm's aftermath, as reported by the New York Post.
“I’d also just remind potential looters – you never know what you’re walking into.”
DeSantis said that “people have a right to defend their property,” referencing the Second Amendment.
“I’ve seen signs in different people’s yard in the past after these disasters, and I would say it’s probably here – ‘You loot, we shoot.’”
DeSantis referenced reports that the small town of Steinhatchee saw looters. He called it “ridiculous” that looters, also known as pirates, would be looking to take advantage after Hurricane Idalia.
“I’ve told all of our personnel at the state level, you know, you protect people’s property, and we are not going to tolerate any looting in the aftermath of a natural disaster.”
DeSantis spoke out against looting in 2022 as it was reported that people were taking boats to islands that had been impacted by Hurricane Ian. He warned people not to loot and referenced Florida being a law and order state.
Related Link: Trump Retains 44-Point Lead With Republicans After Playing Hooky From Debate
Why It’s Important: DeSantis’ comments on looting after the hurricane in Florida come as areas of the country have seen a rise in shoplifting at retail stores.
Target Corporation TGT was among the retailers who acknowledged shoplifting problems last year. The retailer took a $400 million hit due to organized theft that hurt gross profit margins.
“We know we’re not alone across retail in seeing a trend that I think has gotten increasingly worse over the last 12 to 18 months,” Target Chief Financial Officer Michael Fiddelke said at the time.
As previously covered by Benzinga, the National Retail Federation has observed an uptick in issues such as theft, gift card fraud, and inventory mismanagement. In 2022, this retail shrink totaled around $95 billion, compared to around $5 billion in 2021.
To add into higher costs of rent and items, retailers and homeowners face the risk of shoplifting and looting.
DeSantis has yet to announce when he'll resume his 2024 campaign activities. According to the latest Morning Consult poll of Republican voters, he trails Donald Trump by 44 points, and his support has been waning.
“You do what you need to do,” DeSantis said Tuesday when asked about the 2024 race and the hurricane.
Read Next: 2024 Election Betting Odds: Biden Gains, DeSantis Drops
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