Following the catastrophic landfall of Hurricane Helene as a Category 4 storm along Florida’s Gulf Coast, U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rick Scott (R-FL), along with Florida colleagues, have called on President Joe Biden to expedite federal resources and authorize key emergency policy flexibilities.
The group stresses that swift action is essential for the state’s recovery efforts.
In a letter to the President, the lawmakers emphasized the need for a seamless federal response to support Floridians, asking for temporary housing assistance, debris removal guidance, and emergency permitting procedures to clear navigation channels.
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The letter also urged FEMA to issue policies to expedite housing resources and sand removal and called on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expedite permitting processes for shoreline infrastructure and activate the Operation Blue Roof program to protect homes from further damage.
“We need to accelerate recovery efforts for Floridians and ensure federal agencies are acting swiftly,” the letter stated. “Thank you for your attention to these important matters.”
Read: Hurricane Helene Death Toll Climbs Past 200, Recovery Efforts Continue In North Carolina
The letter was signed by Senators Rubio, Scott, and U.S. Representatives Greg Steube, Anna Paulina Luna, Laurel Lee, Gus Bilirakis, Vern Buchanan, Kat Cammack, Byron Donalds, and Neal Dunn.
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