UPDATE: Missouri National Guard, Department of Public Safety resources for Hurricane Milton response no longer required

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The State of Missouri was notified on Thursday, Oct. 10 by the State of Florida that both Missouri National Guard (MONG) and Department of Public Safety (DPS) resources previously offered for Hurricane Milton response efforts are no longer required.

On Wednesday, Oct. 9, Gov. Mike Parson announced that the MONG and DPS were preparing to deploy resources to assist the State of Florida. In light of Hurricane Milton being less impactful than previously expected, the State of Florida has canceled its Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) request that Missouri was responding to. 

"While Missouri was ready and willing to assist our fellow Americans in Florida, we are relieved that Hurricane Milton proved to be less destructive than previously expected and that the State of Florida already has the necessary resources to respond," Parson said. "Teresa and I will continue to keep the people of North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida in our thoughts and prayers as recovery efforts continue." 

In a communication to states that had answered Florida’s EMAC request, the Florida Division of Emergency Management said the willingness to help was appreciated but that the events over the last 24 hours were not as dire as had been expected and that the state believed it was able to meet its needs with resources already available within the state.

A Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) specialist in donations and volunteer management will be deploying to Florida in response to a separate EMAC request.  

No MONG or DPS resources were in transit to Florida before notice of the EMAC cancellation was received. To date, the State of Missouri has no pending, direct EMAC requests for states affected by Hurricanes Helene or Milton but is prepared to consider any requests should they be received. 

Individuals interested in helping hurricane victims are encouraged to direct donations to trusted disaster relief organizations such as the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. Financial contributions are the fastest and most flexible method of donating as it allows these organizations to quickly address urgent or emerging needs. If you wish to donate supplies, first check to see what items have been identified as high need and where.