Hurricane Michael has made landfall in the Florida panhandle. In preparation for this Category 4 hurricane, the Defense Department pre-positioned active-duty and National Guard members to help civilians during the storm.
Air Force Gen. Terrence J. O’Shaughnessy, the commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, briefed reporters at the Pentagon on the Defense Department’s preparations to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the states affected by Hurricane Michael.
“We are surrounding the storm,” O’Shaughnessy said. “This is no small feat given the unprecedented size and strength of [Hurricane] Michael.”
Before the hurricane even made landfall, 2,216 active-duty personnel were in position, along with 32 helicopters, 240 high-water vehicles and 32 swift-water boats. Some 2,300 Florida National Guard members also have become actively engaged. As the storm progresses, that number will be increasing to support the demand for assistance, the general said.
Although Florida has endured many hurricanes in the past and has a robust capability for dealing with the storms, the federal government assists as part of the national response framework, O’Shaughnessy said.
The Defense Department's preparations and efforts to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency and disaster relief efforts across states affected by Hurricane Michael are coordinated through North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command. Explore the resource items listed below for more information.