Duval Times

This morning, Senator Rick Scott visited Cedar Key to survey damage from Hurricane Helene and receive a briefing from Levy County Sheriff Bobby McCallum, Cedar Key Mayor Sue Colson, and local emergency management officials regarding response and recovery efforts. Senator Scott has been in constant contact with local leaders, law enforcement, and emergency management officials in communities throughout the state impacted by Hurricane Helene to ensure they have the needed resources as they respond to the storm and help Floridians recover.

Senator Rick Scott said, “I had the opportunity this morning to meet with Cedar Key Mayor Sue Colson and walk around the island with Levy County Sheriff Bobby McCallum to assess Hurricane Helene’s damage to the town. They faced unbelievable damage and storm surge like we’ve never seen before, and it’s heartbreaking to see so many homes and businesses destroyed by this storm. I’m grateful for the Mayor, Sheriff, law enforcement, National Guard, emergency management officials and first responders for their work here on the ground. Florida is resilient and while so many families are facing unimaginable loss, I will stand alongside them every step of the way as they recover, and I will fight for every federal resource they need to do so. Families should continue to follow the direction of local authorities and stay safe while they work to get roads back open, power back on and families back home. If there is one thing I know, it is that Floridians can get through anything when we come together and the resolve of our state will ensure we rebuild and recover to be even stronger than before.”

This week, Senator Scott has had daily calls with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) prior to Helene’s landfall and been in contact with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the days after to receive the latest updates on Hurricane Helene. Prior to Helene's landfall, Senator Scott received briefings from law enforcement and emergency management officials in Bay County, Franklin County, Taylor County, and Levy County and urged Floridians to heed warnings, evacuate, and prepare.

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

Senator Scott encourages all Floridians to visit his website at www.rickscott.senate.gov/hurricane-season-resources for information and resources on Hurricane Helene response and recovery or from the Florida Division of Emergency Management at floridadisaster.org or @FLSERT.

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