Hurricane Season is Here, Get Prepared Today!

Sincerely,

United States Senator

“I know Michael is still fresh in the minds of families and businesses here in Mexico Beach. It is hard to imagine going through that again, so now is a great opportunity for you and your family to stock your disaster supply kits with vital supplies like a first aid kit, a radio, flashlights, batteries, and other necessities. As I always say, you can rebuild your home, but you can’t rebuild your life. Don’t put your family and loved ones at risk. Don’t wait to take action. Get prepared today.”

Read more HERE.

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Read more HERE.

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“In these seven months since Ian, I’ve talked to countless families, businesses, and officials on every level – we’ve worked hand in hand to make sure you have the resources you need to get back on your feet and on the way to a full recovery. But we always need to be ready for the next storm. Now is a great opportunity for your family to stock your disaster supply kits with vital supplies like a first aid kit, a radio, flashlights, batteries and other necessities. As I always say, you can rebuild your home, but you can’t rebuild your life. Don’t put your family and loved ones at risk. Don’t wait to take action. Get prepared today.”

Read more HERE.

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Read more HERE.

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Read more HERE.

Sen. Rick Scott to Donate Senate Salary to American Red Cross and Meals on Wheels in Support of Hurricane Preparedness Efforts

Senator Rick Scott and Mrs. Ann Scott announced that the senator will be donating his quarterly Senate salary to the American Red Cross Florida Regions and Meals on Wheels, which operates 126 programs throughout the state. Both of these organizations play a critical role in serving our communities, especially during hurricane season, to help families and our senior citizens receive much-needed resources and support. Senator Scott has donated his Senate salary every quarter since taking office.

Senator Rick Scott said, “The 2023 hurricane season is around the corner, and there’s no better time to get prepared than TODAY for any potential weather. As I travel the state this week to encourage Floridians to get prepared, Ann and I are proud to announce that we will be donating my Senate quarterly salary to Florida sectors of American Red Cross and Meals on Wheels to support the great work they’re doing throughout our state during this Hurricane season. Right now, so many families are continuing to struggle to make ends meet with inflation, and often turning to organizations like these for help with extra supplies for their emergency supply kits and stocking up for potential weather. One of the best things about the state of Florida is that when Floridians are in need, there’s always a helping hand available – these organizations and their many committed volunteers are a prime example of that.”

Read more HERE.

Orlando Sentinel: Sen. Rick Scott: Don’t wait, Florida, get prepared for hurricanes now

Stepping through the wreckage that was scattered across Highway 98 in Mexico Beach, I saw a man and his wife standing in the garage of their condo looking over what was once a beautiful home before the storm surge came. That was nearly five years ago, in 2018, one day after Hurricane Michael slammed into the Florida panhandle as a category 5 storm. I’ll never forget what those kind people said to me when I walked over to greet them: We thought the warnings were overblown and that we could ride it out. We will never ignore those evacuation orders again.

Those folks were lucky to be alive, but others have not been so fortunate. Last year, Hurricane Ian hit Fort Myers Beach like a sledgehammer. Between its category 5 winds and nearly 14 feet of storm surge, Ian took the lives of more than 150 Floridians. We continue to keep the families of those we lost in our prayers.

Last week, I was back in Mexico Beach and Fort Myers to warn Floridians to take hurricane preparedness seriously. Those were two visits on my statewide Hurricane Preparedness tour that also stopped in Miami, Kissimmee and Tampa. Each of these communities understands just how destructive and serious hurricanes can be.

Throughout my now 13 years as governor and U.S. senator, I’ve seen firsthand the destruction left behind by devastating storms. If there is one thing I learned, it’s that Florida is resilient. Our state and local communities come together in times of need and work incredibly hard to recover from these storms.

Each hurricane season presents its own challenges, and as the 2023 hurricane season approaches, Americans continue to face the challenge of inflation and increased prices on everyday goods. That means every Florida family needs to be even more vigilant about making a plan and getting prepared ahead of time. We know how suddenly severe weather can develop and threaten our communities — it can happen at any moment. So, I am urging every family and business in Florida to get a plan and make a disaster preparedness kit today.

Starting preparations early allows Floridians to make purchases of vital supplies, like food, water, flashlights, batteries and other necessities on their own terms. Early preparation also give you the time to revisit your plan. When you don’t feel rushed, you’ll create the best plan possible for your family. You can find resources and information on creating a personalized emergency plan at ready.gov.

As Floridians, we know better than anyone that preparedness saves lives. Even for those who have lived in Florida for decades, we can never become complacent or let our guard down. We should never underestimate the threat of severe weather. In case of a storm, stay tuned to your local news reports and follow the direction of local law enforcement and emergency management officials. As I always say, you can rebuild your home, but you cannot rebuild your life.

Floridians also understand the power of nonprofits following natural disasters. When I became a U.S. senator, I committed to donate my salary to vital charities. My wife, Ann, and I were proud to announce last week that we are sending a donation to two great partners, the Red Cross and Meals on Wheels. We’ll continue to work hand-in-hand with them should disaster once again strike the Sunshine State.

While families across our state prepare for the upcoming hurricane season, I’ll continue to work with our federal partners at FEMA, the National Hurricane Center and other federal agencies to make sure that we are ready to get needed resources and assistance to Floridians impacted by severe weather. As your Senator, my goal every day is to make Washington work better for you. Ensuring a robust and speedy federal response to hurricanes is no exception.

There are only a few days left before the start of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. Now is the time to focus on taking care of each other and protecting our families. Don’t wait to take action. Start getting prepared today.

Read more HERE.

Hurricane Preparedness

As Floridians, we know that preparedness saves lives. As the 2023 hurricane season begins, the time for Florida families and businesses to make a plan is TODAY.

Now is a great opportunity for your family to stock your disaster supply kits with vital supplies like a first aid kit, a radio, flashlights, batteries and other necessities. Your kit should also include 7 days worth of food and water, prescription medications and any important documents.

This week, Floridians can restock their hurricane preparedness kits tax-free. The sales tax holiday ends on Friday, June 9 so make sure to take advantage of the savings while you can.

Watch Sen. Scott and Weather Channel meteorologist Jim Cantore’s Hurricane Season PSA HERE or below.

You can find resources and information on creating a personalized emergency plan HERE.

Here are a few tips to help you prepare your family and business for this upcoming season:

• Prepare an evacuation plan & make sure everyone in your home knows the plan.
• Stock up on emergency supplies, including:
  • Water – You will need water for drinking, cooking and sanitation purposes. Pack a minimum of 1 gallon daily per person for 7 days
  • Food – You will need enough food for a minimum of 7 days:
    • Non-perishable packaged or canned food and juices
      • Manual can opener
    • Foods for individuals with dietary restrictions (i.e. infants, elderly, etc.)
    • Snack foods
    • Cooking tools and fuel
    • Paper plates and plastic utensils
  • Flashlight and Extra Batteries
  • Pillows, Blankets and/or Sleeping Bags
  • Clothing – Include a complete change of clothes suitable for your area’s climate. Be sure to include sturdy shoes to protect you from debris or other sharp objects you may encounter outdoors post-storm
  • First Aid Kit, Prescription Medication and Other Medicines
  • Radio – Battery operated and NOAA weather radio
  • Toiletries
  • Cleaning Supplies – Include garbage bags, moisture wipes and other items you may need to sanitize your home or surrounding post-disaster
  • Special Items – Assess all family members needs. Consider other items needed for infants, elderly and individuals with access and functional needs (i.e. medical items, baby bottles, etc.)
  • Cash – Banks and ATMs may not be open or available for extended periods following a disaster
  • Toys, Books and Games
  • Important Documents – Consider storing all critical documents in a waterproof container, as well as saving them electronically. These items can include, but are not limited to, insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, Social Security card, etc.
  • Tools
  • Pet Care Items
    • Proper identification/ immunization records
    • Ample supply of food and water
    • Carrier or cage
    • Medications
    • Muzzle and leash
    • Photo of you and your pet(s) – in the event that you are separated from your pet, having an updated photo with your pet will help validate pet ownership
• If you have been told to evacuate, EVACUATE. Don’t stay behind. We can rebuild a home, but we can’t rebuild a life.

• Follow instructions from local law enforcement and emergency management officials.
• Stay away from windows and seek shelter.

• If you were advised to evacuate, do not return home until it is safe to do so.
• Be mindful of debris and down power lines.
• Do not drive or walk around outside if you do not have to.

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• FEMA: Visit FEMA for up-to-date information, support, services, and to apply for disaster assistance following a storm.
• SBA: Visit SBA to learn about low-interest disaster loans to help businesses and homeowners recover from a major disaster
• FloridaDisaster.org: Visit FloridaDisaster.org for resources and information on creating a personalized emergency plan for your family.
• HUD: Visit HUD to learn about housing assistance available to homeowners and renters
• National Hurricane Center: Visit NHC for the latest updates on tropical weather threats.

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• @FLSERT
• @NHC_Atlantic
• @MyFDOT
• @GasBuddy
• Local Sheriff’s Office
• Local Emergency Operations Centers