Duval Times

Senator Rick Scott visited St. Lucie County to assess the damage caused by Hurricane Milton and receive a briefing from Sheriff Keith Pearson on the ongoing recovery efforts. Accompanied by Congressman Brian Mast, Scott emphasized his commitment to ensuring that federal resources are available for those affected by the storm.

Scott has been in regular contact with federal officials, local leaders, law enforcement, and emergency management personnel across Florida to coordinate recovery efforts. He urged residents needing assistance from agencies like FEMA or the SBA to reach out to his office.

On Thursday, Senator Scott discussed disaster response and recovery with President Joe Biden, stressing the importance of fully funding FEMA, SBA, HUD, and USDA for disaster aid. He also spoke with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzmán about expediting damage assessments.

Earlier this week, Scott joined Senator Marco Rubio and other Florida congressional members in sending a bipartisan letter to President Biden requesting expedited approval of Florida's Major Disaster Declaration following Hurricane Milton's landfall. The request was approved, making residents in 34 counties eligible for FEMA assistance.

"Although Hurricane Milton made landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast, it impacted nearly the entire state," said Senator Scott. "Floridians are resilient; working together with local, state, and federal governments as well as nonprofit partners will ensure we recover stronger."

Scott has been actively involved in coordinating response efforts before Milton's landfall. He held daily calls with the National Hurricane Center for updates and traveled along Florida's Gulf Coast to meet with sheriffs and emergency management officials in Hillsborough, Sarasota, and Lee counties.

The senator continues to advocate for federal support through communications with officials such as FEMA Region 4 Administrator Robert Samaan and U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. This week saw additional letters sent by Senators Scott and Rubio urging prompt action on potential obstructions at Tampa Bay's port due to its significance in receiving petroleum products vital for Florida’s economy.

Floridians seeking help can visit www.rickscott.senate.gov/contact/casework or follow updates from the Florida Division of Emergency Management at floridadisaster.org or @FLSERT.