Biden Approves Seminole Tribe of Florida Emergency Declaration

President Biden announced today that he approved the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s emergency declaration, and has ordered federal assistance to supplement the Tribe’s emergency response efforts to Hurricane Milton. The Seminole Tribe has six reservations, with a hurricane warning in effect for the Tampa Reservation located directly in the path of Milton.

The White House press release stated DHS and FEMA have been ordered to coordinate relief efforts with the Tribe’s response, and appointed Leda M. Khoury of FEMA as the coordinator of the Federal operations:

Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that an emergency exists for the Seminole Tribe of Florida and ordered Federal assistance to supplement the Tribe’s response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Milton beginning on October 5, 2024, and continuing…. Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding. Ms. Leda M. Khoury of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.

Biden’s announcement comes in response to Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) writing a letter in support of the Tribe, and after approving the State of Florida’s emergency declaration yesterday. Rubio and Scott urged Biden to support the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s request, stating in the letter:

Dear Mr. President:

We write in support of the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s request for a pre-landfall emergency declaration for Hurricane Milton, which is forecasted to make landfall in Florida as a major hurricane.

Hurricane Milton is expected to bring damaging wind, rain, and flooding to Florida, including Seminole Tribal lands. Ensuring the Tribe has access to the federal resources needed for emergency response is imperative to protecting members of the tribe, their communities and property. As such, we urge you to promptly approve the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s request for a pre-landfall emergency declaration.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

The National Weather Service’s National Hurricane Center urged Florida residents to evacuate today, as areas impacted by the storm will be unsafe for travel.