WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Rick Scott spoke with the Director of the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Dr. Michael Brennan, to receive a briefing on Tropical Cyclone Nine, which is posing a significant risk to the Florida Panhandle and Gulf Coast. The storm is expected to make landfall Thursday and is also expected to strengthen to a major hurricane, bringing an increased risk of life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds along the coastline. The NHC expects Hurricane watches and warnings to be issued in the Panhandle and along the Gulf Coast tomorrow morning. Following Senator Scott’s call with the NHC, he released the following statement.

Senator Rick Scott said, “We have a lot of new Floridians in our state, so I want to be very clear: EVERYONE MUST TAKE THIS STORM SERIOUSLY. In 2018, Hurricane Michael took a very similar path to what Tropical Cyclone Nine is forecast to follow. Hurricane Michael was initially expected to hit the Panhandle as a tropical storm, but over the course of just four days, Michael intensified to a major category five storm that destroyed Mexico Beach and many other communities in northwest Florida. Do not underestimate this storm and do not wait to get prepared. As we know, the track of these storms can change, so all Floridians should monitor this. The time to make a plan and get ready is NOW. My team and I are monitoring this storm closely, and I just got off the phone with the National Hurricane Center Director Dr. Michael Brennan. Everyone on the Gulf Coast should prepare for a major hurricane with flooding and storm surge and destructive wave activity. We know just how quickly storms can develop and intensify, and now is your chance to make a preparedness plan and take steps to keep your loved ones safe. As I always say: we can rebuild a house, but we cannot rebuild a life. Don’t wait until this storm hits…make a plan 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 Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine 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.

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