Duval Times

Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio have formally requested President Joe Biden to approve Florida's request for a pre-landfall emergency declaration. This comes as Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine, also known as Helene, is expected to intensify into a major hurricane. The storm is forecasted to bring strong winds, heavy rain, severe storm surge, flooding, hazardous seas, and potential isolated tornadic activity across 41 Florida counties.

In their letter to the President, Senators Scott and Rubio emphasized the urgency of the situation. "We write in support of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s request for a pre-landfall emergency declaration for 41 of Florida’s counties due to Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine (Helene), which is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane and impact Florida in the coming days."

The senators noted that the cyclone is projected to make landfall on Florida's Gulf coast by Thursday afternoon. They highlighted that many areas of the Florida Big Bend coastline are still vulnerable due to damage from Hurricane Debby in August.

"Ensuring that the state has access to the federal resources it needs is imperative to protecting Floridians, property, and our communities," they stated. The letter concluded with an appeal for prompt approval: "Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter."

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