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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2024

Good Morning! On this day in 1971, Walt Disney World opened in Bay Lake. Initially, it included Magic Kingdom and two resorts, with adult admission costing only $3.50 on opening day.

A lot of our neighbors in Florida are hurting, and many are asking how they can help. Later today, you will receive a special message from our sponsor, World Concern. Hurricane Helene, one of the strongest storms ever to hit Florida, has torn through multiple states, leaving a path of destruction.

We're partnering with World Concern to match the first $5,000 Flyover Florida reader donations, helping provide emergency supplies, clean water, and immediate support to families in need. If you haven’t been affected, consider giving here.

We're sponsored today by RYSE, if you missed out on previous opportunities to invest—here is another chance.

Helene’s Death Count and Costs Soar

Hurricane Helene caused an estimated $145 to $160 billion in damages, according to a preliminary report published by AccuWeather, making it one of the costliest storms in U.S. history.

The death toll has surpassed 110 people across six states, with many still missing. The storm ranks among other historic hurricanes like Ian and Harvey in terms of financial impact, and is one of the deadliest hurricanes of the modern era.

Seventeen Florida counties impacted by Hurricane Helene have been declared major disaster areas by President Biden. The federal declaration makes federal funds available for housing, repairs, and related FEMA assistance programs.

More than 2.2 million accounts across Florida were without power the morning after Helene made landfall, prompting utility providers to mobilize large-scale restoration efforts, with power restored to 99% of customers by Monday.

FEMA individual and business assistance is now available online here, or call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362.

34 State Laws Start Today, Including Homeless Camp Ban

Nearly three dozen new state laws take effect today, including a much-debated measure limiting where homeless people can sleep.

The new homeless law bars local governments from allowing people to sleep in public buildings and rights of way. However, local governments could designate areas where homeless people can sleep.

Another part of the measure will give residents and business owners legal standing to file civil lawsuits against local governments that allow sleeping or camping on public property. That provision will take effect Jan. 1.

“Florida has chosen to reject comfortable inaction and tackle this problem head-on,” said House bill sponsor Sam Garrison in June after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of an Oregon city’s ordinance cracking down on public camping.

‘Operation Blue Ridge’ Deploys to Save Floridians

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that state resources are being deployed north in Operation Blue Ridge to assist Floridians in western North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Tennessee Valley seeking rescue from Hurricane Helene.

At a news conference in Suwannee on Sunday, DeSantis compared the operation to similar state efforts conducted over the last year in Israel and Haiti, which each saw Floridians flown out of disaster-stricken zones.

The efforts include search and rescue teams, law enforcement, and infrastructure experts, with resources such as helicopters, high-water vehicles, and satellite communication devices.

Floridians in need of rescue are asked to fill out forms for assistance.

The Smart Home Company to Watch

Best Buy has a knack for picking the up-and-coming tech products that will dominate the market. Their early bets on household items like Ring (acquired by Amazon for $1.2B) and Nest (acquired by Google for $3.2B) have a proven record of paying off.

Now, Best Buy is unveiling its latest find, launching RYSE’s SmartShades in over 120 retail stores. RYSE has already generated $8M+ in lifetime revenue with over 40,000 units sold, and the numbers are rising (along with the window shades).

➤ Jacksonville: Donna Orender, president of the WNBA from 2005 to 2011, is leading an investment group to expand the women’s basketball franchise into the city. (More)

➤ Tampa: Six local restaurants are providing free meals to those affected by Hurricane Helene. (See List)

➤ Sarasota County: Hurricane Helene restored the natural water flow from Sarasota Bay to the Gulf of Mexico between Siesta and Casey Keys, known as Midnight Pass. If the pass remains open, it could make tidal exchange possible again. (See Details)

➤ Pinellas County: The Justice Department has charged William Robert Braddock III of St. Petersburg with threatening the life of his opponent in the 2022 state primary in the 13th Congressional District election. (More)

➤ Polk County: University of Florida researchers have solved an annual $2.5 million problem for the county by designing a sustainable leachate treatment facility. (See Details)

➤ Doral: Doral is accusing Miami-Dade of acting in “bad faith” in their garbage incinerator negotiations and considering legal action to compel the county into formal negotiations. (More)

➤ The Miami Dolphins fell to the Tennessee Titans 31-12, with backup quarterback Tyler "Snoop" Huntley debuting and Titans’ Will Levis exiting early due to injury. (See Details)

➤ The Miami Marlins ended the season with triple-digit losses for the fourth time in franchise history. The Tampa Bay Rays also had a disappointing season, finishing with more losses than wins for the first time since 2017. (More)

➤ Miami football dropped one spot to No. 8 in the AP Top 25 after a narrow victory over unranked Virginia Tech. (See Rankings)

➤ Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson told reporters he was not concerned about his job status despite the team’s rough 0-4 start to the season. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | MLB | NHL

Flying together with our sponsor

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➤ Salt Life, the lifestyle clothing brand that started more than 20 years ago in Jacksonville Beach and expanded to 28 stores nationwide, is closing its retail operations to focus on wholesale and e-commerce. (More)

➤ A 166% increase in property inspections since 2022 is boosting Citizens Property Insurance's bottom line, returning $100 million for every $45 million the company spends on inspections. (More)

➤ A new report by the National Association of Realtors highlights Florida's top real estate agencies. (See List)

➤ IAAPA, the Orlando-based attractions industry association, will debut its expo in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in 2026. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ ZQuiet is a ready-to-use, anti-snoring mouthpiece that provides immediate relief by gently moving your jaw forward. With ZQuiet, you can finally stop snoring at the source — for good! (See It Here)

RYSE shareholders have seen their value increase 40% year over year, and strong upside remains as they scale into retail and high-volume B2B channels.

The smart home industry is booming with double-digit growth projected until 2033 and billion-dollar acquisitions for companies like RYSE with retail distribution and patented technologies.

Invest in RYSE at just $1.75/share before it becomes a household name.

➤ Drone footage shows the devastation in Florida after Hurricane Helene. (See Video)

➤ A comet, a solar eclipse, an aurora, and a ‘mini-moon’ will all be visible from Florida this week. (See Events)

➤ A Florida sailor and his dog were rescued from their sinking sailboat in the Gulf of Mexico during Hurricane Helene. The 64-year-old man had been living aboard for a year after a breakup. (See Photos)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Today is International Coffee Day! Celebrate by trying our very own Flyover Roast Coffee, roasted at our favorite coffee shop right across the street from our office. We offer two exclusive single-origin coffee roasts: the Afterburner Nicaraguan Dark Roast and the Cruising Altitude Guatemalan Medium Roast, both in whole bean and ground. This coffee is how we stay fueled to bring you the best news every morning at no cost to you!