Hurricane Helene is rapidly intensifying as it moves north from the Gulf of Mexico, poised to bring devastating impacts to Florida and Georgia. As of Thursday morning, Helene is predicted to make landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Florida’s Big Bend coastal region. With winds exceeding 130 mph and a storm surge potentially reaching up to 20 feet, the National Weather Service has labeled the storm surge threat as “unsurvivable,” a rare and dire warning from the agency. Florida’s Hernando County Commissioner Brian Hawkins urged residents under evacuation orders to take immediate action, stating, “We’re talking about 8 to 12 feet of water. This, over the last couple of years, is the most significant forecast that we’ve come up against.” He added, “I can’t stress it enough. I’m asking everybody, please stay safe. Do the right thing, make a plan and evacuate.” The storm is expected to impact Florida on Thursday evening, continuing its path into Georgia with similarly catastrophic effects.
FEMA has also sounded the alarm, with Acting Associate Administrator Keith Turi stressing the gravity of the situation: “Our real focus today is making sure we get the word out to everybody in the storm’s path that please don’t underestimate the storm. Take it seriously, and particularly if you are in those storm surge areas and you have those evacuation orders, please heed the warnings.” Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Director James Stallings echoed this concern for the State, noting the potential for significant power outages and tree damage due to saturated ground conditions. “We’re facing widespread impacts across the entire state, with power outages likely to last days, if not weeks,” Stallings said, adding that mountainous regions should also prepare for possible mudslides. Both Florida and Georgia have been placed under emergency declarations, with resources mobilized for the impending devastation.
In response to Hurricane Helene, Florida’s Governor has activated over 3,000 National Guard troops and nearly 300 volunteers from the Florida State Guard (FSG). The FSG, though not classified as a true Defense Force by StateDefenseForce.com* due to Florida law labeling the organization as a civilian one, has prepared a robust response. This includes over 250 soldiers ready to deploy, along with specialized assets such as 10 shallow water vessel boat teams, 7 flat-bottom flood rescue skiffs, and amphibious rescue vehicles. The FSG also has seven search and rescue teams and a Blackhawk helicopter for aerial assessments and logistics support.
With Hurricane Helene on track to cause unprecedented destruction, both state and federal agencies are urging all residents in its path to evacuate and prepare for extended recovery efforts. The combined efforts of the Florida National Guard and State Guard will play a critical role in the immediate aftermath of the storm, as they assist in search and rescue operations and provide support to affected communities.
Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia have all declared states of emergency in anticipation of Hurricane Helene. We have reached out to the Defense Forces in each of these states to inquire about their current activation status:
- Georgia State Defense Force: Not activated or put on standby orders yet.
- South Carolina State Guard: Not activated or put on standby orders yet.
- Tennessee State Guard: Not activated, awaiting orders
- Virginia Defense Force: Activated
- Mission: logistics distribution, administrative in-processing, operations center augmentation and public information capabilities
* The Florida State Guard is recognized as a civilian organization because it does not operate under the state’s military laws and regulations, which govern the Florida Army National Guard and Air National Guard. While every other State Defense Force in the country is subject to their state’s military codes, the Florida State Guard does not function inside these parameters. As a result, StateDefenseForce.com does not classify them as a State Defense Force under Federal Law 32 U.S.C. s.109.
We have repeatedly reached out to the Florida State Guard to address these concerns, hoping to clarify their status and classify them as both a Defense Force and a military organization. Additionally, we aim to encourage volunteers to join their ranks. However, we have yet to receive a response from the Florida State Guard Public Affairs Office. If you are part of The Florida State Guard PAO Office please contact us at Staff@statedefenseforce.com.
Sources: South Carolina State Guard PAO – Virginia Defense Force PAO – Georgia State Defense Force PAO – CNN – Florida Governors Office
*Update 10/1/2024 – Added Tennessee State Guard Status
