Duval Times

Today, Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio have reached out to President Joe Biden with a letter supporting the Seminole Tribe of Florida's request for an expedited Major Disaster Declaration. This comes in the wake of Hurricane Milton, which caused widespread devastation across Florida.

The letter emphasizes the need for immediate federal resources to assist in response and recovery efforts on Seminole Tribal lands. The hurricane, which made landfall on October 9, 2024, severely affected areas including Tampa, Brighton, Big Cypress, and Immokalee Seminole Indian Reservations, as well as Lakeland and Fort Pierce trust parcels.

The senators stressed the importance of quick action to protect tribe members, their communities, and property. They stated: "Ensuring the Tribe has access to the federal resources needed for its ongoing response and recovery efforts is imperative to protecting members of the tribe, their communities and property."

In addition to seeking presidential support for this declaration, Senator Scott encourages Floridians needing assistance with federal agencies like FEMA or SBA to visit his website. Information about state-level response can be found through the Florida Division of Emergency Management.