Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) announced on Tuesday that Florida is deploying over 1,100 assets to help Texas with its border security crisis, according to a press release.
This move is an attempt to bolster efforts to secure the southern border and combat what Gov. DeSantis terms “Biden’s Border Crisis.”
“The impacts of Biden’s Border Crisis are felt by communities across the nation, and the federal government’s abdication of duty undermines the sovereignty of our country and the rule of law,” said DeSantis during the announcement.
He added that his directive involved multiple state agencies, saying, “At my direction, state agencies including law enforcement and the Florida National Guard are being deployed to Texas, with assets including personnel, boats, and planes. While Biden ignores the crisis he created, Florida stands ready to help Texas respond to this crisis.”
Among the resources being deployed are 101 Florida Highway Patrol Troopers, 200 Florida Department of Law Enforcement Officers, 20 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Officers, and 800 Florida National Guard Soldiers.
Also included are 20 Emergency Management Personnel, including radio technicians, logisticians, mechanics, and planners.
Florida will also send five fixed-wing aircraft with monitoring equipment, two Mobile Command Vehicles, 17 unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), and 10 vessels – including airboats, shallow draft vessels, and mid-range vessels.
Kevin Guthrie, the Division of Emergency Management Director, expressed solidarity with Texas, saying, “We stand with Texas as they work to repel illegal aliens at the border. We are prepared to assist however needed.”
The assistance is facilitated by the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), an agreement that allows states to provide resources to each other in times of emergency.
As part of this compact, Texas and Florida can accept support from each other at any time through an EMAC request.
The EMAC process also ensures resources and personnel deployed for emergency situations are eligible for FEMA reimbursement.
