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Sen. Rick Scott to survey damage in Charlotte County

Reporter: Amy Galo Writer: Nicholas Karsen
Published: Updated:

Florida Sen. Rick Scott is visiting Charlotte County to receive a briefing on Hurricane Helene and survey the damage.

Scott visited Punta Gorda at around 1:45 p.m. on Tuesday and was joined by Congressman Greg Steube, Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell and Punta Gorda Mayor Lynne Matthews.

The senator began his tour at 226 Taylor Street, where he received a briefing from local and emergency management officials regarding response and recovery efforts.

Senator Scott directed business owners and homeowners to reach out to FEMA and the SBA to get the money they need to recover.

He also gave an update on a bill that he and Congressman Steube and have been working to pass, which would give a deduction to costs for these storms.

Scott, along with Sheriff Pummel and Congressman Steube, walked through a handful of businesses hit hard by Helene’s floodwaters, hearing their stories and witnessing firsthand what Scott called unprecedented damage caused by storm surge.

Businesses like FM Don along Marion Ave.

We spoke with the owner, Stacey Meyer, shortly after Senator Scott stopped in.

Her employees are hard at work restoring the restaurant to its glory, despite their own struggles at home.

“It’s been devastating, but we’re trying to stay positive. We make a lot of progress every day. We are just grateful that we have great staff. Some of them lost everything, and they still have come to help us get everything done so we can get back open and make money,” Meyer said.

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