Watch Senator Scott’s Remarks HERE

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Today, Senator Rick Scott visited Fort Myers for an aerial tour of damage from Hurricane Milton. In addition to the aerial tour, Senator Scott received a briefing from Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno, Lee County officials and local emergency management leaders regarding response and recovery efforts. Senator Scott has been in constant contact with federal officials, local leaders, law enforcement and emergency management officials in communities throughout the state that are impacted by Hurricane Milton to ensure they have the needed resources as they respond to the storm and help Floridians recover. Senator Scott is urging those in need of assistance with a federal agency, like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Small Business Administration (SBA), or any other federal issue while recovering from Hurricane Milton, to contact his office HERE.

Senator Rick Scott said, “The number one thing I want to reiterate today is that everyone must stay vigilant and stay safe. Recovery begins right now, but you can't recover if you lose your life by taking risks after this storm. I just spoke to President Biden about the response and recovery and told him I am completely focused on making sure that FEMA, SBA, HUD and USDA are fully funded. We need to have boots on the ground until Florida is fully recovered. Also, I’ve demanded that Majority Leader Chuck Schumer immediately reconvene the Senate once FEMA and the SBA finalize damage assessments so we can fully fund these agencies and others responding to this disaster with a clean disaster supplemental appropriations bill and common sense disaster relief legislation like my Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act. I’ll be fighting like hell to deliver disaster aid to our state and ensure seamless debris removal guidance for our local communities. 

"Although the storm has passed, please remember that there are lots of hazards that can pose danger to you and your home. Listen to law enforcement—they will tell you when it is safe to return. There are many downed trees, downed power lines, and folks without power. Don’t put a generator inside, and never drive through water or touch these downed lines. Your first responders and emergency management leaders here are 100 percent focused on response and recovery, minimizing the damage and ensuring folks are getting the help they need. Florida is strong, we are resilient. We will recover and we will rebuild even stronger. I have nine offices around the state, so please, if you need any help with a federal agency, go to www.rickscott.senate.gov.”

MORE…

Ahead of Milton’s landfall, Senator Scott has had daily calls with the NHC to receive the latest updates on Hurricane Milton and traveled along Florida’s Gulf Coast to receive briefings from sheriffs, local law enforcement leaders and emergency management officials in Hillsborough County, Sarasota County and Lee County, urging families to stay safe and prepared. Senator Scott has been in constant contact with state leaders, mayors, sheriffs and police chiefs, emergency management officials and energy companies in communities throughout the state that were expecting impacts from Hurricane Milton to ensure they have the needed resources to respond to the storm. Senator Scott has also spoken and written to federal officials, including FEMA Region 4 Administrator Robert Samaan and U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to ensure Florida has much-needed access to federal resources.

This week, Senators Scott and Marco Rubio have written letters to President Joe Biden in support of the State of Florida’s and the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s requests for pre-landfall emergency declarations ahead of Hurricane Milton. Both requests were approved by President Biden following his receipt of Senators Scott and Rubio’s letters. Senators Scott and Rubio also sent a letter to President Biden urging the direction of federal agencies to expedite plans to respond to potential obstructions at the Port of Tampa Bay, which receives more than 40 percent of Florida’s petroleum products. In their letter, the senators emphasized that this action by the federal government is crucial to expedite all requested measures to protect Florida’s economy and ensure a swift recovery. 

Senator Scott encourages all Floridians to visit his website at www.rickscott.senate.gov/contact/casework for information or help with federal agencies like FEMA and the SBA, following Hurricanes Milton and Helene, or more on response efforts from the Florida Division of Emergency Management at floridadisaster.org or @FLSERT.

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