Governor Jim Pillen announced today that the Nebraska National Guard mission to Florida in support of the post-Hurricane Milton emergency response operations was cancelled this weekend following a post-storm reassessment by Florida officials, who relayed their decision to the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency on Saturday morning.
The hurricane response mission involved approximately 150 Nebraska National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from units located throughout the state. It was in response to an Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) request made by the State of Florida for a Guard general service support company in anticipation of damage that would be caused by Hurricane Milton’s landfall. The EMAC request was coordinated by the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency.
The Soldiers and Airmen – all of whom are volunteers – were ordered to duty by Governor Pillen last week. The Guard Soldiers and Airmen returned to Nebraska this weekend and, following final processing, were released on Monday.
“I would like to personally thank each of our Nebraska National Guard Soldiers and Airmen for their willingness to volunteer to support this mission. I would also like to thank all of the families and employers who willingly supported their Guard Soldiers and Airmen,” said Maj. Gen. Craig Strong, Nebraska adjutant general. “Fortunately, the damage caused by Hurricane Milton was not as catastrophic as was first feared. However, the willingness of our Nebraska National Guard Soldiers and Airmen to put their lives on hold and volunteer to support their neighbors in Florida says a tremendous amount about each of these individuals and their commitment to remaining ready and agile when disasters strike.”