Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) was the first lawmaker to make the call after traveling across his home state of Florida, one of the southeastern states hit directly by the storm, to survey damage while the Federal Emergency Management Agency completes its damage assessments. Once those are finished, Scott said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) should “immediately reconvene” to pass supplemental spending and other disaster relief legislation. 

“Floridians are resilient, but the response and recovery from this storm demands the full and immediate support of government at every level to get families and businesses back to normal,” Scott said in a statement. “While we wait for this critical information, I will keep fighting to make sure that FEMA, the SBA, and the entire federal government are working in total collaboration with state and local officials so we continue to get resources and aid deployed quickly.”

Scott’s comments came after President Joe Biden suggested Monday that he “may have to request” Congress to return to pass some sort of disaster relief legislation. However, the president said a final decision had not been made. 

Those calls were soon echoed by Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), who argued Congress should not have left town for recess without passing some sort of legislation to ensure FEMA was properly funded.

“I stand ready to return to Washington to immediately ensure FEMA has the resources to help the communities devastated by Hurricane Helene,” Moskowitz said in a statement. “Congress must show that it can still deliver for the American people in their hour of greatest need. So, let’s get back to work and pass a bipartisan, long-term solution with no poison pills or politicking involved.”

Lawmakers left town last week and are not expected to return until after the election on Nov. 12. Congress adjourned after passing its three-month stopgap spending bill to extend government funding until later this year. Notably, the bill did not include any disaster relief because of the short time frame, with House GOP leaders noting that funding will be finalized in the December legislation.

It’s unclear whether Biden will request a return or if congressional leaders are in talks to do so. The Washington Examiner contacted both House and Senate leadership offices for comment. 

Helene made landfall as a Category 4 Hurricane in Florida’s Big Bend around 11:10 p.m. on Thursday, becoming the largest storm to ever hit the region. Hours later, Helene weakened to a tropical storm with sustained winds falling to 70 mph.

Since making landfall, Helene has caused hundreds of flash flood warnings in Florida and in regions of South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia. At least 100 people have been killed.