ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – After Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency over the weekend, the state National Guard is now “fully activated” to support response efforts during Hurricane Milton, according to state officials.
Officials said in a Wednesday news release that the National Guard has pre-staged forces throughout Florida and has also begun receiving units from other states, including South Carolina, Virginia, Michigan, Arkansas and Louisiana.
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“The FLNG has positioned Liaison Officers in 21 counties to coordinate their mission requirements and have received 89 missions,” the release reads.
In addition, 18 rotary aircraft, 13 boats, and around 440 high-wheeled tactical vehicles are geared to respond immediately once conditions allow them to act.
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Some functions of the Florida National Guard during this time include:
- Search and rescue
- Route clearance
- Law enforcement support
- Commodity distribution
- Flood mitigation
- Aviation
- Other support as needed
Milton is expected to make landfall in Florida sometime Wednesday evening and rip across Central Florida through early Thursday. Upon arrival, the storm is forecast to move through Central Florida before heading into the Atlantic.
To stay up-to-date with the latest on Milton, be sure to check back regularly with ClickOrlando here.