Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday activated the Florida State Guard ahead of a dangerous Gulf low and severe weather expected to menace Florida this weekend.
The Florida State Guard, which is separate from the Florida National Guard, is an all-volunteer force spearheaded by DeSantis last year to assist National Guard members during natural disasters and other emergencies.
“The Florida State Guard plays an essential role in Florida’s preparation for and swift response to severe weather,” DeSantis said in a statement. “We thank them for their willingness to mobilize on short notice as we prepare for potential severe weather impacts this weekend.”
DeSantis also said he directed the Division of Emergency Management “to prepare flood response and prevention equipment and instructed Floridians to plan for flooding, strong wind gusts, and isolated tornadoes.”
The governor revived the state guard in 2022 after decades of dormancy. It was activated “for the first time in more than 75 years in response to Hurricane Idalia,” he said.