Office of the Governor | Governor Murphy to Send New Jersey National Guard to Florida to Support Relief Efforts After Catastrophic Hurricane Ian Hits the State

TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy immediately introduced that he has approved 135 New Jersey Nationwide Guardsmen for deployment to Florida to assist reduction efforts within the wake of Hurricane Ian, which made landfall yesterday as a Class 4 storm. As well as, 40 navy and assist automobiles will probably be despatched to help within the hurricane storm response.

Help is supplied by means of the Emergency Administration Assistant Compact (EMAC), a mutual assist settlement permitting states and territories to share sources in response to pure and man-made disasters. Governor Murphy accepted the EMAC this morning authorizing the mission to Florida.

“Our ideas and prayers are with the folks of Florida proper now as they start their journey to restoration from Hurricane Ian,” mentioned Governor Murphy. “We’re grateful for the 135 women and men who bravely volunteered to journey right down to Florida to help with hurricane assist and reduction efforts. We’re persevering with to observe the storm as is heads additional north and are ready to supply extra assist the place wanted.”

“The New Jersey Nationwide Guard has an necessary historical past of being “All the time Prepared, All the time There.” Whether or not it was Superstorm Sandy, watching over our Nation’s capital, or helping in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, our citizen Troopers and Airmen have distinguished themselves when our communities wanted them most. This will probably be no totally different,” mentioned Brig. Gen. Lisa J. Hou, D.O., Adjutant Common of New Jersey. “Our hearts are with the households of all affected by this hurricane.”

“Hurricane Ian made landfall yesterday and created a path of destruction with harmful winds and catastrophic flooding that has left the residents of Florida in want of help, and New Jersey has answered the decision,” mentioned Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “The New Jersey Nationwide Guard will probably be sending sources and personnel to Florida to help them on their street to restoration. Our prayers are with the residents of Florida and everybody affected by this storm.”

Hurricane Ian made landfall in southwest Florida on Wednesday as a Class 4 storm with sustained winds of as much as 150 mph within the eye of the storm. The storm continued to maneuver north all through the night time, inflicting great injury and hazard to these in its path, slowly downgrading to what’s now a tropical storm. The storm continues to maneuver north with excessive winds and heavy rains. Thousands and thousands of Floridians are let with out energy and in harmful circumstances.