State DOTs and National Guard units from several southeastern states, including South Carolina and Mississippi, are aiding Florida in post-Hurricane Milton recovery efforts. Florida DOT activated ESU corridors for evacuation and has over 2,000 personnel involved in storm response activities. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves and South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster have also deployed resources to assist with recovery operations.
FDOT photo
The Howard Frankland Bridge crews worked around the clock to prepare the project for Hurricane Milton. The barges were chained together and then securely anchored to the sea floor. “Barge Island” included 24 cranes, 72 barges and covered nearly 10 acres.
Several state departments of transportation in the southeast joined National Guard units and other state agency personnel in helping Florida deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Milton; the second major hurricane to strike the Sunshine State and the southeast United States as a whole within just three weeks.
FDOT photo
Hurricane Milton struck the western coast of Florida below the city of Tampa Bay on the evening of Oct. 9 and subsequently crossed the state and headed out into the Atlantic Ocean by Oct. 10. The Category 3 storm, which generated wind speeds of up to 120 mph, also spawned several tornadoes, which inflicted further damage in communities along the west coast and in central parts of the state.
According to a from the office of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, the state activated its emergency shoulder use or ESU corridors to help speed up the evacuation of some 3 million people ahead of the storm's landfall, with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) staging personnel and equipment close to Hurricane Milton's path to help speed up recovery operations.
The agency currently has more than 2,000 team members working directly on storm response, 328 "cut and toss" crews active in the field with more than 350 pieces of heavy equipment and trucks.
The Florida DOT also tapped private road and bridge contractors to assist in its "cut and toss" debris-clearing operations, which adds additional crew members and more than 500 pieces of heavy equipment to accelerate efforts on this mission.
Meanwhile, the agency has deployed more than 150 bridge inspectors to check structures in areas impacted by the storm to ensure they are safe for normal usage.
Those actions occurred even as Florida DOT continues to clean up from the impact of Hurricane Helene; to date, the agency said it has removed 270,947 cu. yds. of debris statewide resulting from Helene.
Florida Turnpike photo
Meanwhile, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster authorized and directed the deployment of National Guard Soldiers in response to the state of Florida's request for emergency assistance. That deployment included high water vehicles, helicopters, and search and rescue teams.
The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) also deployed its State Highway Emergency Program or SHEP #trucks to aid with Hurricane Milton evacuation efforts as well as other storm recovery needs, such as clearing highways of debris.
"Hurricane Helene reminded us of the power of neighbors helping neighbors, and South Carolina is ready to stand with Florida in their time of need," said McMaster in a statement. "The National Guard resources being deployed will not interfere with our own recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene and will still allow for our National Guard to deploy in South Carolina to prepare for potential impacts from Hurricane Milton as well."
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves also deployed National Guard soldiers, helicopters, search and rescue teams and other resources to assist Florida in the anticipated aftermath of Hurricane Milton.
"Our state is no stranger to hurricanes, and we'll always be grateful for the assistance we've received in the past from people across the country," Reeves said in a statement. "It's only right that we now help our fellow Americans in their time of need."
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