U.S. Senator Rick Scott stopped at Dewey Destin’s Seafood Restaurant today to host a hurricane preparedness press conference, marking the second stop of his annual statewide tour ahead of the 2026 hurricane season.
U.S. Representative Jimmy Patronis, representatives from the American Red Cross, and local public officials joined Scott to outline emergency response coordination and emphasize the necessity of early family preparation.
“Hurricane Season is almost here, and the time to prepare is today—not tomorrow, not next week,” Scott said during the press conference. “It only takes one storm, and having your disaster plans set and preparedness kits stocked will save lives. Remember, if you’re not prepared, there’s nothing law enforcement or the fire department can do for you in the middle of the storm. They can’t come get you. Everyone needs to take this seriously and prepare now. I am asking every Florida family to get ready, be alert, and help your neighbors. You can rebuild homes, but you can’t rebuild your life.”
The event highlighted resources available to the public, including the legislative disaster planning tools hosted on the senator’s official website.
At the federal level, the press conference touched on recent legislative efforts aimed at disaster recovery. Last month, the bipartisan Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act passed the House unanimously. Scott is currently managing the bill’s push through the Senate. The legislation is designed to provide tax relief to families following natural disasters to accelerate the rebuilding process.
This follows legislation passed during the previous congressional session, where Scott secured the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act to assist Florida communities impacted by Hurricanes Helene, Debby, Milton, Ian, Nicole, Fiona, and Idalia. He also previously secured passage of the FISHES Act, which alters federal regulatory processes to expedite disaster relief funds for Florida’s commercial fisheries.
READ: Florida Braces For Early Tropical Twist Just Days Before Hurricane Season Kickoff
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