SANFORD, Fla. – Today, Senator Rick Scott joined state and local leaders and law enforcement in Sanford for a Hurricane Preparedness press conference to urge Floridians to get prepared as the 2025 Hurricane Season begins June 1. Throughout the week, Senator Scott has been traveling across Florida and has visited Naples, Miami, Clearwater, and stopped in Pensacola this afternoon to round out his annual hurricane preparedness tour to urge families to take steps now to prepare for any potential weather, because as Floridians know best, preparedness saves lives. Senator Scott remains committed to ensuring Florida families have every resource they need to prepare for, respond to, and recover from any natural disaster and is urging Floridians to get a plan in place TODAY.

Senator Rick Scott said, “With the start of hurricane season just days away, I’ve been traveling across the state to ensure Floridians are ready for what lies ahead. Here in Central Florida, we know that hurricanes can still bring powerful winds, heavy rainfall, and dangerous flooding to even our inland communities. We’ve seen time and time again how quickly storms like Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton can shift paths and cause widespread damage. That’s why it’s so important to prepare now. Take time to gather supplies: flashlights, batteries, first aid kits, radios, water, and nonperishables, before a storm is on the way. Florida communities are strong and our first responders are the best there is, but preparation starts at home. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Your safety and your family’s future depend on the steps you take today.”

Florida families can visit www.rickscott.senate.gov/hurricane-preparedness to make a preparedness plan and find helpful resources to keep their families safe.

On the federal level, Senator Scott continues to work to help Floridians prepare for and recover from any potential weather. He recently chaired a hearing of the Senate Special Committee on Aging on disaster preparedness for our nation’s seniors, who face unique challenges during natural disasters. Last Congress, he was also proud to secure passage of his Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act to provide tax relief to communities across Florida affected by disasters, including Hurricanes Helene, Debby, Milton, Ian, Nicole, Fiona, and Idalia, as well as his FISHES Act to support Florida’s fisheries recovering from storms by improving the federal regulatory processes for fishery disaster relief and expediting these funds.

Senator Scott is leading several pieces of legislation to support Floridians during this hurricane season, including:

• The Homeowners Premium Tax Reduction Act to provide American homeowners an above-the-line tax deduction of up to $10,000 of premiums paid for homeowners’ insurance annually at their primary residence.
• The Flood Insurance Relief Act  to provide tax relief for Americans who purchase flood insurance either through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private insurance carrier. 
• The Removing Barriers to Private Flood Insurance Act, the Flood Insurance Consumer Choice Act, and the Flood Insurance Transparency Act to reform the NFIP, which would help lower the cost of flood insurance, build a more robust private market, and ensure the property insurance market better serves Florida families; and
• The Residential Emergency Asset Accumulation Deferred Taxation Yield (READY) Account Act to create a tax-free savings vehicle for home mitigation and disaster response costs. 

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