ST. PAUL, MN – Governor Mark Dayton today issued Emergency Executive Order 18-14, directing a Minnesota National Guard helicopter and response team to assist with Hurricane Michael relief efforts in Florida. Governor Dayton’s Emergency Executive Order approves a request for assistance from the Minnesota National Guard through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC).

 

Governor Dayton’s Emergency Executive Order authorizes a response team from Minnesota to travel to Florida, and includes one CH-47 Chinook Heavy Transport Helicopter and six soldiers from the Minnesota National Guard. The team will provide general personnel and supply aviation support to aid in emergency response and recovery operations.

 

Hurricane Michael made landfall in the panhandle region of Florida as a Category 4 hurricane on Wednesday, October 10, 2018, and has continued to travel inland as a tropical storm. Areas of the southeastern United States are expected to be severely impacted by damaging winds, extensive rainfall, and dangerous flooding, persisting for an indeterminate period of time and critically endangering lives and property.

 

The Minnesota National Guard, and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management division, continue to monitor nationwide requests for hurricane assistance, to determine how Minnesota can continue to best assist.

 

To read Governor Dayton’s Emergency Executive Order, CLICK HERE.

 

The Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) is a mutual aid agreement between all 50 states. Under the Compact, a state in need of emergency assistance may request resources (people, equipment, etc.) from other states based on their needs. Agencies in other states with available resources are able to respond to a request, but there is no obligation to participate. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division coordinates the state’s EMAC requests. To learn more about the EMAC process, CLICK HERE.

 

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