In response to the impending threat of Hurricane Milton set to make landfall in Florida, Governor Mike DeWine of Ohio has activated more than three dozen members of the Ohio National Guard. The team dispatched includes the 200th Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer (REDHORSE), who specializes in high-impact civil engineering tasks necessary in the wake of such natural disasters.
"As Florida recovers from one hurricane and braces for another, Ohio is answering the call to help Governor DeSantis and the entire state," Governor DeWine commented. This initiative is Ohio's proactive move to support Florida, and the 40 members of the 200th REDHORSE Squadron are already en route in advance of what is feared to be a catastrophic event. They will be tasked with conducting support assessments, clearing debris from public spaces, and contributing to other relief efforts, as Mike DeWine, Governor of Ohio Office, reported.
Ohio's readiness to assist in such crises extends beyond their latest gesture. Just last week, DeWine called upon a contingent of Airmen and Soldiers to aid North Carolina following Hurricane Helene's destructive passage through the state. The recurring gesture underscores Ohio's commitment to mutual aid, rooted in the Emergency Management Assistance Compact – a national agreement that facilitates state-to-state assistance during declared emergencies.
Major General John Harris Jr., Ohio's adjutant general, highlighted the preparedness and skills of the Ohio National Guard, saying, "The 200th REDHORSE Squadron is trained to provide a highly mobile, rapidly deployable, civil engineering response force that is self-sufficient to perform heavy damage repair." Mike DeWine, Governor of Ohio Office, Harris's assertion attests to the squadron's capability to effectively respond and manage the harsh conditions expected from Hurricane Milton's landfall.
