Duval Times

Senator Rick Scott visited the Pinellas County Emergency Operations Center to receive a briefing on Hurricane Helene response and recovery efforts. He was accompanied by Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, Pinellas County Administrator Barry Burton, local law enforcement leaders, and emergency management officials. Senator Scott has been in regular contact with local leaders and officials in communities affected by Hurricane Helene to ensure they have the necessary resources for response and recovery.

Senator Scott expressed his gratitude towards the local authorities, stating, "I want to thank Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, Pinellas County Administrator Barry Burton, the emergency management officials, law enforcement and first responders here in Pinellas County. Category 4 Hurricane Helene was a monster and the storm surge we saw in this region of Florida is unprecedented." He emphasized the importance of following law enforcement guidance on when it is safe to return home due to ongoing hazards such as downed power lines and standing water.

Scott assured Floridians that he is working at the federal level to secure resources for recovery efforts. "I am here to emphasize to Floridians that I'm fighting like hell as their partner at the federal level to make sure Florida gets resources and will continue working with FEMA on Hurricane Helene response and recovery efforts," he said.

Throughout this week, Senator Scott has had daily communications with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and has been in contact with FEMA for updates on Hurricane Helene. Prior to the hurricane's landfall, he received briefings from officials in Bay County, Franklin County, Taylor County, and Levy County. Earlier today, he also received a briefing in Pasco County regarding their recovery efforts.

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

Senator Scott encourages all Floridians to visit his website for information and resources related to Hurricane Helene response and recovery. Updates from the National Hurricane Center can be found at nhc.noaa.gov or @NHC_Atlantic on X (formerly Twitter), while information from the Florida Division of Emergency Management is available at floridadisaster.org or @FLSERT.

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