Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) declared a state of emergency in Florida in light of his state’s residents trapped in Israel.
DeSantis wrote that “many” of the 20,000 Americans are currently in Israel and wish to return to their state.
BLINKEN PROMISES US WILL BACK ISRAEL AS NETANYAHU VOWS TO DESTROY HAMAS
Today I signed an executive order authorizing rescue operations in Israel to bring Floridians home and transport supplies to our allies.
We will not leave our residents behind.
To the many Floridians who are stuck in Israel, trying to get home — help is on the way.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) October 12, 2023
“Today I signed an executive order authorizing rescue operations in Israel to bring Floridians home and transport supplies to our allies. We will not leave our residents behind,” DeSantis wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “To the many Floridians who are stuck in Israel, trying to get home — help is on the way.”
With the executive order, the director of the Division of Emergency Management, Kevin Guthrie, has the green light to “execute the State’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan and other response, recovery, and mitigation plans necessary to cope with the emergency, including any logistical, rescue, or evacuation operations.”
“Under the leadership of Gov. Ron DeSantis, DEM is arranging chartered flights for Floridians needing safe transportation from Israel – completely free of charge,” the department wrote on X. “If you’re in need of evacuation, please visit http://floridadisaster.org/israel and fill out the form.”
In light of the conflict between Hamas and Israel, some 2,900 have died, among them 27 American citizens. Hamas fired thousands of rockets and also sent dozens of fighters into Israel on Saturday on Simchat Torah, a Jewish holiday celebrating the annual cycle of the Torah scroll reading.
The Washington Examiner reached out to the governor’s office to understand how many Floridians are currently in Israel.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
This comes after Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) went to Israel himself to perform a rescue mission. Mills, like DeSantis, called out the commercial flight cancellations that left Americans stranded in the area.
DeSantis’s executive order will expire after 60 days.
