Duval Times

FT. MYERS, Fla. – Today, Senator Rick Scott visited Ft. Myers to host a press conference as part of his Hurricane Preparedness Tour. He was joined by CFO Jimmy Patronis, Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno, and local leaders. This week, Senator Scott is traveling the state urging Florida families to prepare for the 2024 Hurricane Season, which begins on Saturday, June 1.

Throughout the week, Senator Scott will continue his statewide tour to emphasize hurricane preparedness and meet with local elected leaders, law enforcement, emergency management officials, and business owners. His tour has included visits to Mexico Beach in Florida’s panhandle, St. Pete Beach, and Hialeah.

Senator Scott is advocating for Washington to support Floridians still recovering from past storms and to be prepared for future disasters. Earlier this month, he sent a letter to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell expressing concerns about the impending exhaustion of the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF). According to reports, FEMA expects the DRF to run out of funds by August 2024 and may need immediate needs funding as early as June.

“With the 2024 Hurricane Season beginning soon,” said Senator Scott, “I am traveling around Florida to send one very clear message: now is the time for every family to make a plan and get prepared. Families down here are still recovering from Hurricane Ian and the terrible devastation and flooding it caused. We lost so many Floridians in that storm and we can't let that happen again. The time to prepare is now!"

He continued: "We never want to see a disaster hit, but now is a great opportunity for you and your family to stock your disaster supply kits with vital supplies like a first aid kit, a radio, flashlights, batteries, and other necessities—and you can buy hurricane supplies sales-tax-free from June 1st through June 14th, so take advantage of that. As I always say, you can rebuild your home, but you can’t rebuild your life. Don’t put your family and loved ones at risk. Don’t wait to take action. Get prepared today.”

Senator Scott is also working with Lee County officials regarding FEMA flood insurance discounts for NFIP policyholders following FEMA's decision in April to downgrade Lee County's CRS rating. He has been engaged in conference calls with local officials weekly since then and has sent several letters to FEMA seeking more information and time for Lee County to address the issue. While he secured a 60-day extension for county officials to fulfill FEMA’s requests, Senator Scott aims for a permanent solution.

Florida families and businesses can visit www.rickscott.senate.gov/hurricane-preparedness for resources on making disaster preparedness plans.

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