First responders from Minnesota are on the ground in Florida assisting with Hurricane Ian recovery efforts. Governor Walz said Friday that eight members of the Minnesota All Hazards Incident Management Team (MN-AHIMT) were sent to Florida for a 12-day mission. The Minnesota emergency managers, firefighters, medical professionals, law enforcement, and public works experts are supporting emergency operations centers, response, and recovery in affected counties, and helping keep people safe. The team brought its own cots, tents, generators, meals, and water.
“Minnesotans have always stepped up to help out their neighbors in times of need,” said Governor Walz. “ Hurricane Ian has devastated homes, businesses, and communities, and Minnesota is committed to helping the affected communities in any way possible. I am grateful for Minnesota’s first responders who have answered the call to provide aid and keep people safe. My heart is with our neighbors in Florida as they begin to recover from Hurricane Ian.”
MN-AHIMT members are highly trained and skilled public safety professionals who serve in a variety of disciplines.
Upon arriving in Florida, the emergency managers, firefighters, medical, law enforcement, and public works experts will:
- Support field or emergency operations center operations
- Support and coordinate response and recovery efforts in affected counties
- Provide a command-and-control infrastructure to manage the operational, logistical, informational, planning, fiscal, community, and safety issues
“When disasters strike, Minnesotans don’t hesitate to step up to the plate and help others on their worst days. It doesn’t matter if we’re helping the person who lives next door or someone we have never met 3,000 miles away,” said Minnesota Department of Public Safety Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Joe Kelly. “Traveling for days and spending time away from their families in a disaster area will not be easy for this team — but it’s the right thing to do. And we know the people of Florida would do the same for us.”
With crippling devastation to Florida’s infrastructure, the team will bring their own cots, tents, generators, meals, and water.
The MN-AHIMT deployed to Monroe County (Key West), Fla., in 2017 to assist with Hurricane Irma recovery efforts. The team responded earlier this year during historic flooding that occurred in northern Minnesota’s Koochiching County.
This is the fourth time this year Minnesota has responded to an EMAC request. EMAC is a mutual aid agreement between all 50 states. A requesting state asks for resources based on their needs and while any state can respond, there is no obligation to participate. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) division coordinates the state’s EMAC requests. Additional information about EMAC is available here .