MIAMI, Fla. – Today, Senator Rick Scott joined City of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Giménez to tour donation and relief supplies collection sites for Bahamian families impacted by Hurricane Dorian. Senator Scott was also joined by Senator Rubio at the American Red Cross in Miami to learn about how they are helping families and business impacted in the Bahamas.

Senator Scott is committed to doing everything he can on the federal level to help families in the Bahamas recover and rebuild. This afternoon, Senator Scott joined Senator Marco Rubio in urging President Trump to waive or suspend certain visa requirements for Bahamian citizens with relatives residing in the United States.

Senator Rick Scott said, “What happened in the Bahamas is absolutely devastating. Your heart goes out to all the families impacted. I want to thank all of those that are coming together to quickly provide relief for families in the Bahamas – your efforts mean so much. The people of Florida are generous and the outpouring of support for our neighbors in the Bahamas has been inspiring. I’m committed to doing everything I can on the federal level to help the Bahamas rebuild and recover following Hurricane Dorian.”

See below for more details on efforts to help families and businesses in the Bahamas impacted by Hurricane Dorian:

• The United States Coast Guard is positioned in the Bahamas to conduct medical evacuations, support search and rescue operations and provide humanitarian aid. The U.S. Coast Guard has also taken the Prime Minister and Bahamas opposition leader to survey damage.

• The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to the Bahamas to assess damage, identify humanitarian needs, and bring urgently needed assistance to those affected by this hurricane.

• USAID is working with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) of the Bahamas to pre-position personnel in Nassau to help the Bahamian government with providing aid.

• The Bahamian government has announced that any relief supplies being shipped or brought by boat to the Bahamas will be exempt from duties and fees.

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