Rubio and Scott Lobby in Support of Seminole Tribe's Disaster Request

US Senators Rick Scott (R-FL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) have sent a letter to President Joe Biden requesting he accept the Seminole tribe’s disaster declaration request for damages caused by Hurricane Milton. 

According to the letter, Hurricane Milton impacted all Seminole Tribal lands in the state, with the most severe damage caused to the Tampa, Brighton, Big Cypress, and Immokalee Seminole Indian Reservations, as well as the Lakeland and Fort Pierce trusts. 

Granting a disaster declaration would release federal resources to impacted areas. 

Such resources, claimed the senators, are necessary in order for the tribe to properly recover. 

“Ensuring the Tribe has access to the federal resources needed for its ongoing response and recovery efforts is imperative to protecting members of the tribe, their communities and property,” reads the letter. 

Hurricane Milton struck Florida in early October, causing an estimated $3 billion in insured losses. 

Given the scale of the damages caused by Milton, the federal government’s response and recovery aid offered has stirred controversy. 

President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris clashed over the shortage of hurricane response funding.

President Trump’s  team published an attack ad emphasizing the billions of dollars Vice President Harris’ administration has allegedly granted immigrants with the small help afforded to hurricane survivors. 

In early October, FEMA officials announced funding shortages for hurricane recovery aid. 

Subsequently, the Trump campaign published information revealing FEMA recently doubled its funding for non-governmental entities providing housing assistance to immigrants apprehended by the Department of Homeland Security. 

FEMA upped its financing of such entities by around $300 million, from $363.8 in 2023 to $650 million in 2024. 

Trump further attacked Harris by contrasting his response to hurricane Milton, which includes fundraisers and hosting hundreds of electricians ready to repair Milton’s damages at Trump locations.