DeSantis Sends National Guard to Ports Amid Strike, Calls Delays to Hurricane Helene Relief 'Totally Unacceptable'

Oct 3, 2024, 06:06 PM

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has deployed the Florida National Guard and the Florida State Guard to critical ports affected by a longshoremen strike, including Tampa, Jacksonville, and Miami, aiming to maintain order and resume operations amid recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene. DeSantis criticized the Biden-Harris administration's inaction, calling the strike "totally unacceptable" and asserting that it is intentionally depriving hurricane victims of relief. "Florida is open—we want to use our resources to get this stuff to the market," he said. In addition to deploying the guards, the governor directed the Florida Department of Transportation to waive certain tolls and weight restrictions for commercial trucks to facilitate the movement of goods. These actions aim to ensure that essential supplies reach hurricane-impacted areas without further delay.