WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ahead of the Major Hurricane Milton that is forecast to make landfall as a major hurricane and 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 to ensure a swift recovery. 

The senators write, “With Hurricane Milton bearing down on Florida’s Gulf Coast, we request you direct federal agencies to expedite plans to respond to potential impediments or destruction of the Port of Tampa Bay and its associated federal channel. Long-term disruptions to the port would not only hinder disaster response and recovery, but have lasting consequences for Florida’s economy.” 

Read the full letter HERE or below.

Dear Mr. President:

         With Hurricane Milton bearing down on Florida’s Gulf Coast, we request you direct federal agencies to expedite plans to respond to potential impediments or destruction of the Port of Tampa Bay and its associated federal channel.  Long-term disruptions to the port would not only hinder disaster response and recovery, but have lasting consequences for Florida’s economy. 

          As you may know, more than 40 percent of the volume of petroleum products consumed in Florida, including gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, arrive through the Port of Tampa Bay, serving communities along the Gulf Coast and the I-4 Corridor. The port is also a major thoroughfare for aggregates and other construction materials that would be necessary for recovery and rebuilding efforts post-Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Due to the port’s location in Tampa Bay, the total length of the federal channels is approximately 70 miles, including portions that extend from the bay to beyond the barrier islands at the mouth of Tampa Bay.  This reality makes the channel susceptible to sand shoaling in normal conditions, but in severe hurricane conditions the port and channel could be otherwise obstructed by sediment and other storm debris.  The port’s location could also result in some of the most severe storm surge from Hurricane Milton impacting onshore facilities, including petroleum infrastructure.  Any extended disruptions to navigability of the federal channel or the operability of onshore petroleum infrastructure would have dire long-term consequences for the recovery of communities impacted by Helene and Milton as well as the Florida economy as a whole. Disruptions to the port would drive price increases and shortages of petroleum-based fuel products that could economically harm millions of Floridians.  

          To stave off long-term economic consequences that could be caused by impediments to navigation or the destruction of petroleum infrastructure at the Port of Tampa Bay, we urge you to expedite the finalization of plans to:

1. Ensure U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers assets are in place to assess the federal channel for sediment shoaling and debris immediately following the storm;
2. If needed, prepare to mobilize the Army Corps of Engineers for emergency dredging and construction operations to remove sediment from the federal channel and assist port tenants in rehabilitating onshore petroleum infrastructure as quickly as possible using natural disaster response emergency authorities; and
3. Utilize waivers, as appropriate, to facilitate interstate deliveries of petroleum fuel products via truck, rail, and maritime modes of transportation.

In the event that a worst case scenario occurs due to Hurricane Milton, preparation to accomplish these actions prior to landfall will aid in recovery.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

MORE…

Yesterday, at the urging of Senators Scott and Marco Rubio, President Joe Biden approved of 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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