JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Today, Senator Rick Scott was joined by state and local leaders and law enforcement for a press conference in Jacksonville to urge Floridians to stay prepared as the 2025 Hurricane Season is underway. Prior to the start of the 2025 season, Senator Scott traveled across the state visiting Naples, Miami, Clearwater, Sanford, and Pensacola on his annual Hurricane Preparedness Tour, urging families to prepare for any potential weather, because as Floridians know best, preparedness saves lives. Senator Scott is committed to ensuring families across Florida have the resources they need to prepare for, respond to, and recover from any natural disaster and is urging Floridians to review their plan and stay prepared.

Senator Rick Scott said, “Families across our beautiful Sunshine State know too well that you cannot be complacent during Hurricane Season. We have seen firsthand how powerful and unpredictable severe weather can be, causing devastation, flooding, high winds, and severe storm surge especially here in the Jacksonville area. That is why being prepared, and staying prepared throughout the entire season can make the difference between life or death. Double check your plans and gather any additional supplies you may need: flashlights, batteries, first aid kits, radios, water, and nonperishable food, before a storm is on the horizon. Our communities are so resilient, and our first responders are second to none other, however, readiness begins at home. Your safety and your family’s safety are a top priority and there is no reason to put them at risk. Don’t wait until it’s too late, ensure you’ve taken the necessary steps to be prepared!”

Florida families can visit www.rickscott.senate.gov/hurricane-preparedness to review their 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. Earlier this year, Senator Scott 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. In the last Congress, he was also proud to secure passage of his Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act which provides much-needed tax relief to communities across the Sunshine State 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 various pieces of legislation to better support Floridians during hurricane season, including:

• The Flood Insurance Relief Act to provide tax relief for Americans with a non-refundable tax deduction on flood insurance premiums paid through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or through private insurers.
• 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 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) Accounts Act to create a tax-free savings vehicle for home mitigation and disaster response costs. 

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