By The Star Staff
The New Progressive Party minority leader in the House of Representatives, Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Nuñez, contacted Sen. Rick Scott, the former governor of Florida, on Wednesday to express his support and solidarity in the face of the imminent passage of Hurricane Milton, which was expected to hit Central Florida with great force.
“Senator, on behalf of our people, I want to express my deepest support and solidarity to you and all the citizens of Florida as you face the impending impact of Hurricane Milton,” Méndez said. “We understand firsthand the challenges that come with facing a natural disaster, and our thoughts and prayers are with you during these uncertain times.”
“I have faith in the strength and resilience of the people of Florida to overcome this adversity and we stand ready to offer any support necessary in the aftermath,” the former House speaker added. “May God protect you and keep you safe.”
An estimated 195,000 Puerto Ricans reside in the Orlando area and parts of Kissimmee, in central Florida, including about 50,000 who relocated after Hurricane Maria in 2017.
Projections had Milton tracking east through central Florida after making landfall near Sarasota, south of Tampa, at around midnight Wednesday.
As Florida’s governor, Scott, a Republican, was one of the first elected officials in the nation to visit Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Maria. During those early months after the storm, Méndez and Scott held numerous meetings on the island to work on issues such as aid to Puerto Ricans who moved to Florida following the devastation caused by the hurricane, among other topics.
Méndez also campaigned for Scott, who was seeking a seat in the U.S. Senate, visiting the Kissimmee area in 2018.
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