U.S. Representative Greg Steube and Senator Rick Scott recently visited Charlotte County to assess the damage caused by Hurricane Helene. During their visit, Rep. Steube emphasized the need for legislative action on disaster tax relief.
Rep. Steube expressed gratitude towards Senator Scott for his support and stated, “I want to thank Senator Scott for being here today. We’ve worked together on a disaster tax relief bill since Hurricane Ian. We’ve been working on that for two years. We were able to get it through the House. We call on Chuck Schumer to bring that bill up for a vote. It doesn’t just affect Floridians, it affects every American that was affected by a natural disaster since 2020 – from Hurricane Ian to Helene. Americans all across the country deserve tax relief and we’re hoping to get that through the Senate soon.”
The officials were accompanied by several local leaders, including Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell, Punta Gorda Police Chief Pam Smith, Punta Gorda Mayor Lynne R. Matthews, Charlotte County Commissioner Joe Tiseo, Charlotte County Emergency Management Director Patrick Fuller, and Charlotte County Supervisor of Elections Leah Valenti.
Following advocacy from Congressman Steube and other Florida representatives, the White House approved a Major Disaster Declaration for Florida due to Hurricane Helene’s impact. Residents in Sarasota, Charlotte, and Lee Counties can apply for FEMA Individual Assistance through www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585). Applications can also be submitted via the FEMA App.
Additionally, businesses in Sarasota, Charlotte, and Lee Counties affected by Hurricane Helene may apply for low-interest SBA disaster loans.
For further information on recovery resources available in FL-17, residents are encouraged to visit Rep. Steube’s hurricane recovery webpage.
