Duval Times

Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio have urged President Joe Biden to approve Florida's request for a Major Disaster Declaration following the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Helene. The hurricane, which made landfall as a Category 4 storm in the Big Bend area, caused significant damage along Florida's Gulf Coast.

In their letter to President Biden, the senators emphasized the severe effects of Hurricane Helene, including extreme wind speeds, storm surge, and heavy rainfall. They noted that these conditions led to extensive flooding, power outages, and widespread structural damage across the state.

"Unfortunately, Helene’s effects will continue to impact the state for some time," they wrote. "Approving this declaration request will allow Floridians to be better prepared for the recovery phase."

The senators also highlighted ongoing efforts at various government levels to address the aftermath of the hurricane. Senator Scott has been in regular contact with agencies such as FEMA and received briefings from local law enforcement and emergency management officials in several counties before and after Helene's landfall.

Earlier this week, both senators had sent another letter requesting a pre-landfall emergency declaration for potentially affected areas in Florida. This request was approved by President Biden on Tuesday afternoon.

Senator Scott has advised Floridians seeking information on response and recovery efforts related to Hurricane Helene to visit his website or resources provided by the Florida Division of Emergency Management.