PENSACOLA, Fla. – Today, Senator Rick Scott wrapped his hurricane preparedness tour in Pensacola joined by state and local leaders and law enforcement for a press conference to urge Floridians to get prepared as the 2025 Hurricane Season begins June 1. Throughout the week, Senator Scott has traveled across the state visiting Naples, Miami, Clearwater, and Sanford on his annual tour to ensure families are taking the necessary precautions now to prepare for any potential weather, because as Floridians know best, preparedness saves lives. Senator Scott is 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 starting on Sunday, now is the time for Floridians to get prepared for the season ahead of any severe weather that approaches. Families here in the Panhandle and along the gorgeous Gulf of America know too well the devastation, flooding, high winds, and severe storm surge that come with severe weather – and they have seen how powerful and unpredictable hurricanes can be. That is why being prepared can make the difference between life and death. Now is the time to gather essential supplies: flashlights, batteries, first aid kits, radios, water, and nonperishable food, before a storm is on the horizon. Florida’s communities are resilient, and our first responders are second to none, but readiness begins at home. Your safety and your family’s safety is a top priority and there is no reason to put them at risk. Don’t wait until it’s too late, take necessary steps to get prepared now!”

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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