On Tuesday, October 08, 2024, Governor Kevin Stitt and the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) announced the state has sent additional resources to support North Carolina and Florida with impacts from hurricanes Helene and Milton.

To aid ongoing response and recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, Oklahoma National Guard (ONG) sent one CH-47 helicopter and 10 personnel, including two rescue swimmers and one Helicopter Search & Rescue Technician. A 10-person team from Oklahoma State Department of Health deployed to support public health needs in North Carolina shelters and impacted communities.

In advance of Hurricane Milton, an Emergency Operations Center support team deployed to assist with incident management and operations support in Florida. The team includes personnel from Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Rogers County Emergency Management, Washington County Emergency Management, Comanche County/Lawton Emergency Management, Oklahoma City Fire, and Norman Police.

Additionally, three swift water rescue teams have deployed to Florida. This includes one 19-person Type 1 swift water rescue team with personnel from Coalgate, Guymon, and Lawton fire departments along with two eight-person Type 3 swift water rescue teams with personnel from Quapaw Nation, Mayes County, City of Pryor, Craig County, and Grand River Dam Authority.

Finally, two 16-person Type 1 swift water rescue teams from Oklahoma Task Force 1 have completed their mission in North Carolina where they conducted swift water rescue and search and rescue operations in and around the North Toe River and assisted with damage assessments. The teams included personnel from Tulsa and Oklahoma City fire departments.

All resources are deploying in response to Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) requests from the Florida Division of Emergency Management and North Carolina Division of Emergency Management. EMAC is a national mutual aid system that allows states to send personnel, equipment and commodities to help disaster relief efforts in other states.

"Oklahomans know what it means to stand beside our fellow Americans in times of need," said Governor Stitt. "We will continue to serve our neighbors with strength and compassion, because that's who we are. Oklahoma has sent a helicopter rescue unit, water rescue teams, emergency operations personnel, urban search and rescue units, and a public health team to help in anyway they can. My prayers are with the Americans who continue to recover from Helene, as well as our friends on Florida's Gulf coast as they brace for Hurricane Milton."

"Oklahoma has been the recipient of support from numerous states in the past six months through the EMAC system,” said OEM Director Annie Mack Vest. "We are committed to supporting our neighbor states and providing any resources we have available as North Carolina deals with the continued effects of Hurricane Helene and Florida prepares for yet another storm with Hurricane Milton on the way," 

OEM continues to monitor additional requests from the affected areas. Further support may be deployed if needed.