SARASOTA, Fla. – Today, Senator Rick Scott received a briefing in Sarasota County from Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt Hoffman, Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche, local law enforcement leaders and emergency management officials regarding preparation efforts for Major Hurricane Milton and urged Floridians to prepare for landfall tomorrow along Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Senator Rick Scott said, “I have one clear message for families in Sarasota and along the Gulf Coast; it's this: if local officials ask you to evacuate, GET OUT IMMEDIATELY. Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall in the Tampa Bay Area as a MAJOR and DEADLY storm which will bring intense and catastrophic storm surge to Sarasota. I was just briefed on the storm and spoke to NHC Director Dr. Michael Brennan. This area will see intense flooding, torrential rain, and widespread power outages are likely across huge portions of the state. The NHC is expecting storm surge to reach 15 feet from north of Tampa to here in Sarasota, 18 inches of rain, and a high risk of flooding along the I-4 corridor—so evacuate TODAY if you are told to do so. Almost all counties in the Tampa Bay region have started mandatory evacuations. Know your zone and get to safety. You MUST leave TODAY. Tomorrow is too late. Hurricane Helene was far off the coast when it came by the Tampa Bay area and we still lost people in that storm. While the track of this storm could change, a direct hit to any of the communities in the area will bring devastation, unlike anything this community has seen in our lifetimes. Everyone along Florida’s Gulf Coast needs to be ready. Now is the time to get prepared. As I always say: we can rebuild a house, but we cannot rebuild a life. Take this storm seriously, make a plan and get ready today.”

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Ahead of Major Hurricane Milton, which is forecast to potentially hinder or obstruct operations at the Port of Tampa Bay, Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging the direction of federal agencies to expedite plans to respond to potential obstruction. The Port of Tampa Bay receives more than 40 percent of Florida’s petroleum products and it is crucial for the federal government to expedite all requested measures to protect Florida’s economy and ensure a swift recovery. 

Yesterday, at the urging of Senators Scott and Marco Rubio, President Joe Biden approved the State of Florida’s request for a pre-landfall emergency declaration ahead of Hurricane Milton’s landfall. Sunday, Senator Scott was joined by Attorney General Ashley Moody, Commissioner of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Wilton Simpson, Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, Congresswoman Laurel Lee and Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna at the Hillsborough County Emergency Operations Center in Tampa to receive a briefing from local law enforcement leaders and emergency management officials regarding preparation efforts for Hurricane Milton. Additionally, Senator Scott has received regular briefings from National Hurricane Center (NHC) Director Dr. Michael Brennan.

Senator Scott encourages all Floridians to visit his website at www.rickscott.senate.gov/hurricane-preparedness to get prepared today. See the latest on Hurricane Milton from the National Hurricane Center at nhc.noaa.gov or @NHC_Atlantic on X, formerly known as Twitter, and from the Florida Division of Emergency Management at floridadisaster.org or @FLSERT. Additionally, Senator Scott encourages those recovering from Hurricane Helene and are in need of assistance with a federal agency, including FEMA and the SBA, or any other federal issue to contact his office at www.rickscott.senate.gov/contact/casework.

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