Duval Times

Hurricane Debby caused severe damage throughout the State of Florida. Governor Ron DeSantis requested a Major Disaster Declaration due to the hurricane-force winds and torrential rains that impacted much of Florida’s west coast and inland areas.

U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rick Scott (R-FL), along with U.S. Representatives Kat Cammack (R-FL), Greg Steube (R-FL), and Vern Buchanan (R-FL), sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging approval of the State of Florida’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration.

The full text of the letter is below:

"Dear Mr. President,

We write in support of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration due to Hurricane Debby, which brought hurricane-force winds and torrential rains to much of Florida’s west coast through inland Florida. Hurricane Debby’s storm surge and heavy rainfall severely impacted substantial portions of the state, with significant flooding, massive power outages, and widespread damage that will take a strong partnership to recover and rebuild.

Unfortunately, this hurricane will continue to impact the state for some time, and the full extent of flooding will not be known for a couple of weeks as Debby continues to produce rain to the north. These rains will deluge the estuaries and watersheds that feed into Florida’s rivers. Promptly approving this declaration request will allow Floridians to be better prepared for the recovery phase. As such, we urge you to approve the State of Florida’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration.

Floridians are incredibly resilient, and with cooperation from all levels of government, we will rebuild stronger than ever. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,"