Donald Trump Jr. turned DeSantis for not canceling a trip during the flooding in Florida

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Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding area received more than two feet of rain, forcing the city’s international airport to close and flooding homes and highways.

DeSantis, who traveled to Ohio on Thursday to attend a Butler County Republican Party event, declared a state of emergency for Broward County, including Fort Lauderdale later in the day. Reports indicate that rain and flooding may continue to disrupt critical infrastructure including county roads, airports, hospitals and schools.

The governor’s office also authorized funds from the states emergency preparedness and response fund to pay for disaster relief.

The Florida Division of Emergency Management has assigned personnel to assist in recovery efforts including collecting damage assessment data. The Florida Highway Patrol has added personnel to coordinate coverage in response to the flooding.

But Fort Lauderdales mayor Dean Trantalis, a Democrat, said at a press conference Thursday that the governor had not called him about the flooding and the ongoing cleanup efforts.

“I’m not sure what’s going on, but I’m sure he’s interested in what’s going on here, and he’s happy to work with his office,” Trantalis said. I’m not sure if the governor himself needs to be involved, but state agencies have been very helpful in working with us to tackle this challenge.

In response, the governor’s office said it is wrong for the media and political critics to rush to politicize every national calamity.

The governor left yesterday, and the unprecedented flooding intensified later in the evening. He returned today, DeSantis spokesman Bryan Griffin said in a statement.

However, under the direction of Governor DeSantis, the state emergency response apparatus is fully responding to the flooding and the needs of localities as they are communicated to us. That includes declaring a state of emergency in Broward County, he added.

Meanwhile, Democratic state senator Shevrin Jones criticized DeSantis in a statement released Thursday.

It’s embarrassing and telling about his priorities that Gov. DeSantis to campaign and continue his book tour in Ohio instead of governing in Florida. He failed as a leader, the statement said.

Gary Fineout contributed to this report.

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