ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – Sen. Rick Scott urged residents Friday to prepare now for the June 1-Nov. 30 hurricane season, saying storms’ water — not wind — poses the greatest danger and urging people to heed evacuation orders.
“It just takes a little bit of water,” Scott said, adding that 3 feet of water can make a house impassable and 6 feet can be deadly. “You have to take care and prepare yourself. You’re putting yourself at risk to die if you don’t.”
Scott spoke at a news conference with local and state officials, including Rep. John Rutherford, Sheriff Rob Hardwick and St. Johns County Fire Chief Sean McGee. The officials emphasized communication, planning and supplies as first lines of defense.
Rep. Rutherford said staying informed is critical and urged people to maintain battery-operated radios or other means of receiving emergency information if power fails. He also warned that freshwater flooding is the leading killer in hurricanes.
McGee urged residents to know their evacuation zones and have a family plan and “go packs” ready with documents, medications and other essentials. He noted that fire stations located in evacuation zones may be evacuated and that those who stay do so “at your own risk.”
Scott criticized expectations that federal agencies will provide first-response resources, saying FEMA’s primary role is financial assistance. “They write checks,” he said, urging residents and state officials to prepare for the immediate life-saving response locally.
Officials advised households to stockpile seven days of food and water, gather medicines and important documents, and videotape their homes before a storm to document possessions for insurance claims.
Sheriff Hardwick praised local preparedness and partnerships among law enforcement, fire and county officials, saying Saint Johns County residents generally “heed the warnings” and that the county is conducting exercises at the emergency operations center.
Scott closed by urging residents to prioritize safety. “You can rebuild that house. You can’t rebuild a life,” he said.