From Congressman Neal Dunn, Florida’s Second Congressional District
In the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Florida communities have come together to pick up the pieces and begin the recovery process. Although these storms have been devastating to communities around the state, I’m proud of the resilience and strength Floridians have displayed in the face of adversity. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to FEMA Regional Administrator Robert Samaan, Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie, our county Sheriffs, and all first responders who have been on the front lines supporting the recovery efforts.
Throughout the preparation and recovery process, I have been advocating for Florida’s needs to ensure that everyone impacted gets the support they need from our federal government. I have been working closely with our state and local leaders to coordinate resources and ensure that federal assistance is ready. In the leadup to Hurricane Helene, I sent a letter to President Biden asking him to put federal resources on standby in preparation for the storm. I followed up that request by spearheading another letter with the entire Florida delegation in support of Governor DeSantis’ request for an expedited Major Disaster Declaration in Florida.
These requests ensured that the federal government responded quickly to the devastation caused by Helene and prepared FEMA and other organizations for the even greater response needed for Hurricane Milton.
Although we were prepared for the damage from these two massive storms, the devastation was still immense. In Helene’s aftermath, I spent time with community leaders and surveyed the damage in communities that were most impacted in Taylor County, such as Steinhatchee.
Many families in Steinhatchee and surrounding communities lost everything, and it has never been more important to ensure that they have the support of our federal government. That’s why I was honored to host Speaker Mike Johnson as we surveyed the devastation left by Hurricane Helene. Together, we visited Steinhatchee, conducted aerial assessments of agricultural losses in Lafayette County, and held an agricultural roundtable at the University Air Center, where we met with local leaders to discuss ongoing recovery efforts.
Both Helene and Milton caused untold damage throughout the state and in North Florida specifically. However, Floridians will always be stronger than the challenges they face. Federal assistance is absolutely essential to the recovery effort, which is why I am committed to ensuring that our families and businesses have the tools they need.
Before I finish, I would like to remind everyone that hurricane season is not over. We must be prepared for future storms as we continue to recover. Please take the time to review your disaster plans and supplies. If you or somebody you know needs assistance in the aftermath of this season’s storms, please reach out to my office. For regular updates about what I’m doing in Congress, please follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
