Gov. Tate Reeves is ensuring Mississippi will continue to deploy resources to states impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
“We’ll continue doing whatever we can to assist Americans who were impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton,” Reeves said. “Mississippi has some of the best disaster response personnel in the nation, and they are extremely effective after severe weather strikes. I have no doubt they’ll be a major asset during these response efforts, and I thank them for again stepping up to serve our fellow Americans. Please continue praying for those impacted by these hurricanes.”
The two hurricanes, which made landfall in different parts of Florida before rolling through other southeastern states, have combined to deal billions of dollars of damage, alter millions of lives, destroy thousands of homes and businesses , and kills hundreds of people.
While the historic Helene struck on Sept. 26 and tore through areas in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, and Virginia, Milton made landfall late Wednesday night with destruction mostly contained to Florida.
To aid in recovery efforts, Reeves has so far approved the deployment of 12 Mission Ready Packages (resources that are pre-defined and organized for a specific mission or capability) to five states. Members of the Mississippi National Guard, Mississippi Emergency Management Agency staffers, and task forces comprised of local first responders are on the ground in impacted areas. Additionally, a handful of Mississippi-based utility companies have traveled eastward to help restore power where it was knocked out.
“It’s a privilege to help our neighbors across the southeast in some of their worst times,” MEMA Executive Director Stephen McCraney said. “They’ve never hesitated to help Mississippi when we needed it the most and it’s time to come through for them.”
The following resources have been deployed by Mississippi to other states:
Hurricane Milton
| Florida | 1 Chinook and Crew (MSNG) 2 Blackhawks and Crew (MSNG) Type 1 (Fire) Engine Strike Team (Local First Responders) |
Hurricane Helene
| Florida | Swift Water Rescue Team (Local First Responders) 2 Blackhawk Helicopters and Crew (MSNG) 1 Chinook and Crew (MSNG) EMAC Mutual Aid Coordinator (MEMA) |
| Georgia | 3 – 150kw Generators (MEMA) |
| South Carolina | Engineer Team (MSNG) |
| North Carolina | Private Sector Coordinators (2) (MEMA) 1 Chinook and Crew (MSNG) |
| Tennessee | Voluntary Agency Liaisons (2) (MEMA) |
