OCALA, FL (352today.com) – In a historic move, Florida has activated its largest National Guard deployment ever ahead of Hurricane Milton, with 5,000 National Guard members already mobilized and an additional 3,000 on standby.
This “robust response” was announced by Governor Ron DeSantis during a briefing at the Florida Horse Park in Ocala, as the state braces for the impending storm. He was joined by Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie and Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue.
Describing the mobilization as “probably the largest National Guard mobilization in advance of a storm in Florida history,” DeSantis emphasized the urgency of the response, calling it “necessitated” by the unpredictable and dangerous path of Hurricane Milton. The governor warned that the storm could potentially impact several densely populated regions, including the greater Tampa Bay area, where millions of people could be at risk.
Milton’s track remains uncertain, with the possibility of shifting further north or south along the Florida Peninsula. DeSantis likened Milton’s approach to Hurricane Helene, which made landfall just two weeks ago in Florida’s Big Bend region. While Helene’s impact resulted in no fatalities, DeSantis noted that the area affected by Helene has a significantly smaller population compared to Tampa Bay.
The governor cautioned that Tampa Bay is one of the worst places to take a major hurricane. “The prospect for devastating storm surge is high,” he added.
DeSantis stressed that while the track of Hurricane Milton is not yet guaranteed to strike Tampa Bay, the large-scale mobilization of National Guard troops is a necessary precaution to prepare for potential devastation. The storm could affect not only the Tampa Bay area but also regions along the I-4 corridor, placing millions more at risk.
In addition to the National Guard, 200 members of the Florida State Guard have been activated to aid in the state’s disaster response.
As the storm approaches, DeSantis pressed Floridians in affected areas to take the threat seriously and prepare accordingly, warning that Milton could cause significant property damage and endanger lives if it makes landfall in populated areas.
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