SANFORD, Fla. – With the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season set to begin this weekend, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott is urging Floridians to take storm preparedness seriously — warning that federal disaster aid alone may not be enough.
Scott made a stop in Sanford Thursday morning as part of his statewide hurricane preparedness tour, which has already included visits to Naples, Miami, and Clearwater. The senator met with local, state and emergency management officials at the Seminole County Emergency Operations Center, encouraging families to have a plan in place before the first storm hits.
“We’ve had unbelievable flooding where people never thought we’d have flooding,” Scott said, referencing the increasing unpredictability of recent hurricane seasons.
During the press conference, Scott also addressed growing concerns about federal funding cuts to disaster relief programs. FEMA recently announced reductions in certain services, prompting questions about how state and local governments will respond to major weather events.
Scott said the burden of preparation should not fall entirely on Washington.
“Let’s remember how these storms work, and how FEMA works,” Scott said. “Number one, it’s your responsibility — take care of yourself. Number two, local government. And number three, state government. Here in Florida, we’ve got probably the best in the country with great emergency management teams. The federal government is a check-writer.”
Scott, a member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, said he’s pushing for more sustainable disaster funding, particularly for vulnerable populations like Florida’s senior citizens. He recently led a Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing focused on improving emergency planning for older adults.
Also in attendance Thursday were Congressman Cory Mills, Congressman Randy Fine, and Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma. All echoed the senator’s message: review your evacuation routes, check your supply kits, and don’t wait until a storm is on the radar to get ready.
Scott is scheduled to continue his preparedness tour in Pensacola later today.
For more information on hurricane readiness, residents can visit