Watch Senator Rick Scott’s remarks HERE.

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. – Today, Senator Rick Scott visited Punta Gorda in Charlotte County to survey damage from Hurricane Helene and receive a briefing from Congressman Greg Steube, Sheriff Bill Prummell, Charlotte County Emergency Management Director Patrick Fuller, and other local emergency management officials 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 Helene 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 Helene, to contact his office HERE.

Today, Senator Scott also sent a letter to FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell requesting that the agency coordinate closely with the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) on housing recovery. Thousands of Floridians are still without power, and many who evacuated their homes have sadly returned to inhabitable or destroyed homes. Read more HERE.

Senator Rick Scott said, “Charlotte County, like so many communities along our Gulf Coast, experienced devastating storm surge and is still assessing and cleaning up the damage caused by Hurricane Helene. Today, in my conversations with Congressman Greg Steube, Sheriff Bill Prummell and other local leaders, I reiterated that we will be here every step of the way, especially as Southwest Florida is still working to recover from Hurricane Ian. Congressman Steube and I continue to fight in Washington to pass our Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act needed to ensure the full recovery of families in all impacted communities. I’m also working every day with local, state, and federal partners like FEMA and the SBA, to coordinate resources and direct assistance to those in need. I’m also grateful for the law enforcement, National Guard, emergency management officials and first responders for their work here on the ground.

“Floridians are resilient, and while so many families are facing unimaginable loss, I will stand alongside them every day as they recover, and I will fight for every federal resource they need to do so. Please make sure to continue to follow the direction of local authorities and stay safe while the storm surge continues to recede, they work to get roads back open, power back on and families back home. I have nine offices throughout the state, and my team and I are standing by, ready to help. If you or someone you know needs assistance with a federal agency, like FEMA, the SBA, or any other federal issue while recovering from Hurricane Helene, contact us HERE. If there is one thing I know, it is that Floridians can get through anything when we come together, and the resolve of our state will ensure we rebuild and recover to be even stronger than before.”

MORE…

Prior to Hurricane Helene’s landfall, Senator Scott had daily calls with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and has been in contact with FEMA in the days after to receive the latest updates on Hurricane Helene response and recovery efforts. Ahead of Helene's landfall, Senator Scott received briefings from law enforcement and emergency management officials in Bay, Franklin, Taylor and Levy Counties and urged Floridians to heed warnings, evacuate and prepare. Since Helene’s landfall, Senator Scott has visited Pasco, Pinellas, Hernando, Levy, Manatee, Lee and Sarasota Counties to receive a briefing from the sheriff and emergency management officials in each county on local response and recovery efforts.

On Saturday night, following Senator Scott and Senator Marco Rubio’s letter to President Joe Biden urging his immediate approval of a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Florida, President Biden approved the request. This Major Disaster Declaration approval follows last week’s approval of the State of Florida’s request for a pre-landfall emergency declaration for potentially impacted Florida counties at the request of Senators Scott and Rubio.

Senator Scott encourages any Floridians in need of assistance with a federal agency, including FEMA and the SBA, or any other federal issue while recovering from Hurricane Helene to contact his office at www.rickscott.senate.gov/contact/casework. Find additional resources and information on Hurricane Helene response and recovery at  www.rickscott.senate.gov/hurricane-season-resources or from the Florida Division of Emergency Management at floridadisaster.org or @FLSERT.

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