Hurricane Recovery
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and his wife, Anne, announced Wednesday that they are donating his third-quarter Senate salary to the Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies (BRACE) to help Florida families recover from Hurricane Isaias in the Panhandle.
Scott has donated his Senate salary since taking office in 2019.
“Floridians are tough. We come together when our neighbors need us the most, just as BRACE did before, during, and now after this storm.” — Sen. Rick Scott
What the Senator Said
Partnership for the long haul. Scott said he and Anne are proud to partner with BRACE to support Floridians facing the long road to recovery. He thanked every Floridian who has stepped up and credited BRACE for its commitment to coordinating long-term recovery efforts for families.
“Our best days are always ahead, and we will get through this together,” Scott said.
What BRACE Said
Thousands of neighbors affected. Dr. Nick Jackson, BRACE’s chief executive officer, said the organization is “deeply honored and grateful” to be chosen as the recipient. He said thousands of residents across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties face tremendous challenges as they begin to recover.
“This generous contribution is more than a financial gift; it is a meaningful investment in the recovery and resilience of our communities.” — Dr. Nick Jackson, BRACE CEO
Jackson said BRACE will keep coordinating volunteers, donations, and long-term recovery efforts in both counties, and that partnerships like this one show local residents they are not facing the aftermath alone.
Who Is BRACE?
Born after Ivan. The member organizations of the Escambia Long-Term Recovery Committee established BRACE in 2006 to address lessons learned from Hurricane Ivan. It has since served as the long-term recovery group for Santa Rosa County and runs programs with an anti-poverty focus, recognizing that low-income and vulnerable residents are disproportionately affected by disasters.
BRACE at a glance
- Founded: 2006, after Hurricane Ivan
- Partners: Works with more than 250 partner organizations and many volunteers
- Hurricane Sally: Nearly 80,000 volunteer hours restored more than 100 homes to a safe, sanitary, and functional condition
- Federal recognition: FEMA’s John D. Solomon Preparedness Award, the highest honor in its Individual and Community Preparedness Awards program
Official roles. BRACE serves as the Citizen Corps Council and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) coordinator for Escambia County, the City of Pensacola, and the Town of Century. Through a memorandum of understanding with Emergency Management, it is the “Lead Organization” for Emergency Support Function 15 (Volunteers and Donations) in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. It also serves as the local Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) and is a member of the Florida VOAD.
National recognition. FEMA has recognized BRACE and its partners more often than any other locally based coalition in the country through its Individual and Community Preparedness Awards. Since 2006, BRACE has become the most recognized organization in the United States in that program.
How to Help
Residents who want to volunteer or donate can learn more at bereadyalliance.org.