July 2, 2012 -- 10:51 a.m.

Tallahassee – Governor Rick Scott today made a request to President Barack Obama that the State of Florida receives a Major Disaster Declaration to assist Florida counties that were impacted by Tropical Storm Debby.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will review Governor Scott’s request and advise President Obama on whether to issue a declaration. If a declaration is made Individual Assistance could be granted to qualifying counties. In the event assistance is not granted, Scott may file a supplementary request for assistance from the Small Business Administration.

State and FEMA teams commenced Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments for Individual and Public Assistance in Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Pasco and Wakulla Counties on June 29, 2012. Governor Scott’s initial request is based on the Preliminary Damage Assessment findings for Individual Assistance for said counties. The scope of this Request will be amended in the coming days to add requests for Public Assistance in the above listed counties, as well as Individual and Public Assistance for additional counties based on the results of the Preliminary Damage Assessments that are currently being conducted within the impacted counties.

Tropical Storm Debby made landfall June 27 in Steinhatchee, FL but impact from the storm was felt statewide. The primary concern from Tropical Storm Debby was the prolific amount of rainfall and the resulting flooding impacts. Six rivers across Florida reached major flood stage, and two rivers, the Sopchoppy and the St. Marys, reached record breaking crests.

State officials, in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, are currently conducting damage assessments in counties that were impacted by the storm. These assessments will continue as additional counties complete initial damage assessments.

The Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1 – November 30. To GET A PLAN! visit www.FloridaDisaster.org. For the latest information on the 2012 Hurricane Season, follow us on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/flsert and on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/FloridaSERT.