Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) is requesting over $30 billion in financial relief from Congress to help the state recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian.
The senator is seeking $33 billion because the state, residents, and local governments need “immediate assistance to begin the long road to recovery,” he said in a press release.
IAN LEAVES SCENES OF RECOVERY AND DESPAIR ON FLORIDA COAST
“The strength and resilience of Floridians are inspiring, but we have a long recovery ahead,” Rubio said in a statement. “Given the scale and scope of the disaster — by some measures the fifth strongest hurricane to ever hit the United States — the federal government has an important role to play in facilitating Florida’s recovery. I plan to make sure our state receives the emergency relief it needs to fully rebuild.”
If approved, a large portion of the requested funds would go to the Federal Emergency Management Fund, with $10 million going toward replenishing the Disaster Recovery Fund, and $50 million toward launching a pilot program to build homes in areas susceptible to flooding. The Department of Agriculture would also get close to $3 billion to cover the loss of crops, bushes, trees, and vines.
Around $327 million would go to other agencies around the state, including $20 million allocated to higher education institutions that were damaged during the Category 4 hurricane’s landfall, such as Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida SouthWestern State College, and Bethune-Cookman University.
Rubio also requested changes to existing programs or statutes to better prepare for disasters in the future, such as reforming the Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program to incorporate storm surge forecasting tools and better dispersing warnings to the state.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Ian made landfall on Sept. 28 with 155 mph winds. It is blamed for over 100 deaths, with most occurring in Lee County in Southwest Florida. After sweeping across the state to the Atlantic Ocean, it hit South Carolina as a Category 1 hurricane. It is considered to be the deadliest storm to hit Florida since the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane.
