A support mission that would have sent Nebraska National Guard members to assist with hurricane relief efforts in Florida was canceled this week.
Gov. Jim Pillen announced Tuesday that a Nebraska National Guard mission to Florida in support of post-hurricane Milton emergency response operations was canceled.
The announcement followed a post-storm reassessment by Florida officials, who relayed their decision to the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency on Saturday morning.
“I would like to personally thank each of our Nebraska National Guard Soldiers and Airmen for their willingness to volunteer to support this mission,” said Maj. Gen. Craig Strong, Nebraska adjutant general. “I would also like to thank all of the families and employers who willingly supported their Guard Soldiers and Airmen. Fortunately, the damage caused by Hurricane Milton was not as catastrophic as was first feared. However, the willingness of our Nebraska National Guard Soldiers and Airmen to put their lives on hold and volunteer to support their neighbors in Florida says a tremendous amount about these individuals and their commitment to remaining ready and agile when disasters strike.”
A press release stated the hurricane response mission involved approximately 150 Nebraska National Guard soldiers and airmen from units across the state. It was in response to an Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) request made by the State of Florida for a guard general service support company in anticipation of damage that would be caused by Hurricane Milton’s landfall.
The request was coordinated by the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency.
The Soldiers and Airmen – all volunteers – were ordered to duty by Pillen last week. The Guard Soldiers and Airmen returned to Nebraska this weekend and, following final processing, were released on Monday.