Watch Senator Rick Scott’s remarks HERE.

VENICE, Fla. – Today, Senator Rick Scott visited Venice in Sarasota County and joined Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt Hoffman for an aerial tour of damage from Hurricane Helene. In addition to the aerial tour of damage in Sarasota County, Senator Scott received a briefing from Sheriff Hoffman and 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.

Senator Rick Scott said, “Sarasota County has experienced a severe amount of storm surge that has impacted folks throughout the county, and some of the damage I saw during the aerial tour with Sheriff Kurt Hoffman today was devastating. Major flooding is still prevalent in the area as we wait for the water to recede, so please be sure to listen to your local officials and stay safe. My heart goes out to all the Floridians impacted by this storm, and I’m 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 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 step of the way 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.”

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Senator Scott has had daily calls with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) prior to Helene’s landfall and has been in contact with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the days after to receive the latest updates on Hurricane Helene. Prior to 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 and Lee 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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