Watch Senator Rick Scott’s remarks HERE.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND, Fla. – Today, Senator Rick Scott visited Anna Maria Island in Manatee County to survey damage from Hurricane Helene and receive a briefing from Sheriff Rick Wells 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 Rick Scott said, “I just visited Manatee County to survey damage and receive a briefing from Sheriff Rick Wells, Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth and Holmes Beach Police Chief William Tokajer regarding the devastating impacts from Hurricane Helene. My heart goes out to folks impacted by this monstrous storm. Anna Maria Island and a majority of the coastal communities in Manatee County were devastated by this storm and it is heartbreaking to see so many homes and businesses with significant damage. I’m grateful for the law enforcement, National Guard, emergency management officials and first responders for their work here on the ground.

“Florida is 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.”

MORE…

This week, Senator Scott has had daily calls with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) prior to Helene’s landfall and 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 County, Franklin County, Taylor County and Levy County and urged Floridian to head warnings, evacuate and prepare. See more HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE. Senator Scott was in Pasco, Pinellas and Hernando Counties yesterday to receive a briefing from the sheriff and emergency management officials in each county on local response and recovery efforts. Read more HERE, HERE, and HERE. This morning Senator Scott visited Cedar Key in Levy County with Sheriff Bobby McCallum and Cedar Key Mayor Sue Colson. See more HERE.

On Monday, Senator Scott and Senator Marco Rubio sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging his immediate approval of the State of Florida’s request for a pre-landfall emergency declaration for potentially impacted Florida counties. Following receipt of this letter, President Biden approved an emergency declaration for the State of Florida on Tuesday afternoon.

Senator Scott encourages all Floridians to visit his website at www.rickscott.senate.gov/hurricane-season-resources for information and resources on Hurricane Helene response and recovery or from the Florida Division of Emergency Management at floridadisaster.org or @FLSERT.

###