Duval Times

Senator Rick Scott visited the Bay County Emergency Operations Center in Southport, Florida, to receive briefings from local law enforcement and emergency management officials as Hurricane Helene approaches. He was accompanied by Bay County Emergency Services Chief Matt Lindewirth, Florida State Senator Jay Trumbull, Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford, and Bay County Commissioner Doug Moore.

Senator Scott is traveling around Florida urging families to prepare for the storm, evacuate if necessary, and stay safe. This week, he has had daily calls with National Hurricane Center (NHC) Director Dr. Mike Brennan for updates on Hurricane Helene.

On Monday, Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio sent a letter to President Joe Biden requesting an immediate pre-landfall emergency declaration for potentially impacted Florida counties. President Biden approved this request on Tuesday afternoon.

"We have a busy hurricane season underway and folks in the Panhandle, Big Bend, and Tampa Bay know all too well – you have to stay safe and take every storm seriously," said Senator Scott. "The team here in Bay County is doing everything they can to keep families safe, but every Floridian needs to do their part."

Scott emphasized the importance of evacuation if asked: "We are expecting a major hurricane to make landfall tomorrow, so make a plan now and evacuate now if asked to do so. Look at the anticipated storm surge. Near the Panhandle and in the Big Bend, the NHC is expecting up to 18 feet of surge. THAT RISING WATER WILL KILL YOU."

He also warned about rapid intensification of storms: "Even if you’re not currently in the cone of Hurricane Helene, stay alert. We have seen devastating major storms like Hurricanes Michael and Idalia take very similar paths to what Helene is forecast to follow."

Senator Scott remains in constant contact with local officials and law enforcement: "I’ve been talking to NHC Director Dr. Michael Brennan and have remained in constant contact with local officials and law enforcement to make sure they have all the resources they need."

Scott urged residents along the Gulf Coast to stock up on supplies and monitor weather threats: "Families all along our Gulf Coast have to take this seriously... Continue to monitor the news and local officials for any evacuation instructions, alerts or warnings."

He concluded with a strong message about preparedness: "Florida is resilient because we prepare for storms. I cannot stress this enough: preparedness saves lives. We can always rebuild a home, but we can’t rebuild a life.”

Senator Scott encourages all Floridians to visit his website at www.rickscott.senate.gov/hurricane-preparedness for preparation information. Updates on Hurricane Helene can be found at nhc.noaa.gov or @NHC_Atlantic on X (formerly Twitter), and from the Florida Division of Emergency Management at floridadisaster.org or @FLSERT.

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