FLORIDA STATE GUARD ACTIVATES IN RESPONSE TO DESTRUCTIVE WEATHER
- Florida State Guard
- May 17
- 2 min read
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 17, 2025
MEDIA CONTACT
HOLMES COUNTY, Fla. – On Sunday, May 11, Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in Holmes County following severe weather and tornadoes. The Florida State Guard (FSG) immediately activated to provide time-sensitive disaster assistance within the impacted areas.
“Thanks to the swift and decisive actions of Governor DeSantis and our teammates in the Florida Division of Emergency Management, Florida Department of Transportation, and Holmes County Sheriff’s Office, a rapid and coordinated response was successfully executed,” said Florida State Guard Executive Director Mark Thieme. “We train and prepare every week and month throughout the state for a multitude of disaster response missions. In this operation our route clearance, debris removal and aerial support capabilities were essential to quickly identifying and clearing obstructed roadways to enable access to community areas isolated due to tornado damage.”
FSG Soldiers from the Crisis Response Battalion and Aviation Response Squadron echeloned capabilities in to Holmes County within 24 hours of activation. With support efforts led and directed by Sheriff John Tate and the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office, FSG’s Unmanned Aerial System teams conducted aerial damage assessments searching for any unidentified locations in need of support or aid, and FSG’s route clearance teams utilized their fleet of heavy equipment to cut and clear debris obstructing key access routes.
The Florida State Guard will continue to provide support to Holmes County until emergency response capabilities are no longer required.
ABOUT FLORIDA STATE GUARD | WHEN DISASTER CALLS, WE ANSWER.
Reconstituted by Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature in 2022, the Florida State Guard’s air, ground, and maritime units are force multipliers for statewide emergency response and public safety. The Florida State Guard is committed to protecting the life and property of Floridians from all threats to public safety. For more information, visit https://www.floridastateguard.org/ .