TAMPA, Fla. – Today, Senator Rick 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 Tropical Storm Milton. This morning, Senator Scott received a briefing from National Hurricane Center (NHC) Director Dr. Michael Brennan. The NHC currently forecasts Tropical Storm Milton to make landfall later this week as a major hurricane along Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Senator Rick Scott said, “Today in Tampa, alongside Sheriff Chad Chronister, Mayor Jane Castor, Attorney General Ashley Moody, Commissioner Wilton Simpson, CFO Jimmy Patronis, Congresswoman Laurel Lee, Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna and our world-class emergency management professionals, we have one clear message: if local officials ask you to evacuate, GET OUT IMMEDIATELY. I was just briefed on the storm and spoke to NHC Director Dr. Michael Brennan. The NHC currently expects Milton to hit the Gulf Coast as a major category 3 hurricane and retain hurricane strength across our entire state. That means storm surge on both coasts, flooding, torrential rain, and widespread power outages are likely across huge portions of the state. 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 Tampa Bay area will bring devastation unlike anything this community has seen in our lifetimes. Everyone along Florida’s Gulf Coast needs to be ready. I know that barely one week out from Hurricane Helene’s catastrophic landfall, it is unimaginable to have another major storm barreling toward our state – but you have to get prepared now because your life depends on it.

“I'm very concerned about debris removal here and along the Gulf Coast because anything loose on the ground can become a projectile into homes and businesses in high wind or water. I have raised this concern with state, local and federal leaders many times and I do so again today because every level of government needs to work together on this. I understand there are already efforts underway at the local and state level to expedite debris removal and I’ll be fighting to make sure our local and state governments are spared from federal bureaucracy and red tape to get this done quickly, and fully reimbursed by FEMA for this work. 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.”

Senator Scott encourages all Floridians to visit his website at www.rickscott.senate.gov/hurricane-preparedness to get prepared today. See the latest on Tropical Storm 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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