Texas sends hurricane aid to Florida and Tennessee amid storm threats

Governor Greg Abbott has announced the deployment of Texas emergency response and recovery resources to Florida and Tennessee. This decision follows requests from the Florida Division of Emergency Management in anticipation of Hurricane Milton and from the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency for assistance after Hurricane Helene.

"Texas is swiftly deploying emergency response personnel and resources to Florida as Hurricane Milton prepares to make landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast later this week," stated Governor Abbott. "I also directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to send additional state resources to Tennessee to assist in recovery efforts for communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. America is stronger when we come together in times of crisis, and Texas will continue to deploy crucial resources to support our fellow Americans as they prepare for and recover from these destructive storms. I thank all the Texas emergency response personnel for their work in Hurricane Helene recovery efforts and for answering the call to support the people of Florida as they brace for Hurricane Milton."

Resources are being mobilized ahead of Hurricane Milton's impact on Florida, while disaster recovery assets have been sent to Tennessee following Hurricane Helene. This initiative adds to existing state emergency response activities supporting officials across the Southeastern United States post-Hurricane Helene.

Under Governor Abbott's direction, the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) has deployed various resources. For Florida, TDEM has sent emergency management personnel for resource coordination and swiftwater rescue teams from Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (Texas A&M Task Force 1). For Tennessee, TDEM has dispatched personnel for logistics and disaster finance operations.

This deployment operates under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), a mutual aid agreement that allows states to share resources during emergencies. More information about EMAC can be found at emacweb.org.

Governor Abbott continues his efforts by sending Incident Support Task Force personnel and veterinary resources to North Carolina, power generators to Georgia, and urban search and rescue teams from Texas A&M Task Force 1 to Florida ahead of storm impacts.