CLEARWATER, Fla. – Today, Senator Rick Scott joined state and local leaders and law enforcement in Clearwater for a hurricane preparedness press conference to urge Floridians to get prepared as the 2025 Hurricane Season begins June 1. This marks Senator Scott’s third stop across Florida on his annual hurricane preparedness tour after his previous Naples and Miami visits this week, with additional stops planned to encourage families to take action now to prepare for any potential storms. Especially following the damage and devastating impacts in the Tampa Bay area from Hurricanes Helene and Milton last year, Senator Scott emphasized that Floridians understand better than anyone that preparedness saves lives. The Senator also reiterated his commitment 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 2025 Hurricane Season just around the corner, I am traveling the state on my annual hurricane preparedness tour to urge families to get prepared NOW. Those who live along the Gulf Coast know better than anyone how dangerous and unpredictable hurricanes can be - how fast a storm can shift, strengthen, and devastate entire communities. Recent storms like Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton are horrific reminders that disaster can strike at any moment. No one should gamble with their life or their family’s safety by waiting until it’s too late. Now is the time to stock up on disaster supplies from flashlights, batteries, first aid kits, radios, and other essentials. Floridians are strong and resilient, and we have outstanding first responders ready to help, but true safety begins with YOU taking action now. As I always say: you can rebuild your home, but you can’t rebuild your life. Don’t wait. Start preparing 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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