Sen. Rick Scott makes Pensacola stop to promote hurricane preparedness

Although he is now a U.S. senator, Rick Scott is containing the tradition he started as governor of touring the state to urge Floridians to be prepared for hurricane season, which begins Saturday.

Scott made the first stop of his statewide tour Tuesday in downtown Pensacola, where he spoke at Pensacola Hardware flanked by Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson, Escambia County commissioners, sheriff's office deputies, police and firefighters.

"As y'all know, it seems like we had so many disasters," Scott said. "We had the horrible flooding here a couple times, while I was governor, in Pensacola. But we had tornadoes, four hurricanes. We had Matthew, Hermine, Irma and Michael, which we're still trying to get our money for."

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As governor, Scott said his job was to organize the state's efforts in preparing for and responding to storms. But now as senator, he said, his role is to make sure the federal government has the resources it needs to respond to emergencies with programs offered through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Small Business Administration and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Scott said he hopes the House of Representatives will pass the $19.1 billion disaster relief bill that passed the Senate last week but was held up in the House before the holiday weekend by a single member from Texas.

"I'm hoping that the House will pass it this week and get that implemented so we can get that money here," Scott said.

Scott plans statewide tour

Scott's visit to Pensacola was the first in a tour that was also expected to include stops in Orlando, Miami, Jacksonville and Tampa this week to promote hurricane preparedness.

"Every part of the state has to get ready," Scott said. "Pensacola is an important part of the state. We've unfortunately had quite a bit of flooding here while I was governor. But hurricane season is starting and this is an area that could get hit."

Robinson thanked Scott for coming to Pensacola and pointed out that the only other governor who came to Pensacola as often as Scott did while in office was Pensacola-native Reubin Askew.

Robinson also had a message for the public that everyone should be prepared and know where to get information during an emergency.

"We ask that you have a plan, that you know your evacuation zone," the mayor said. "That if Escambia County issues an evacuation, we expect you to comply with that evacuation and have a plan of where you want to go."

More information about hurricane preparedness can be found online at MyEscambia.com/beready and CityofPensacola.com/beready.

Jim Little can be reached at jwlittle@pnj.com and 850-208-9827.