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Across the south, the effects of Hurricanes Helene and Milton have been devastating and deadly. Help is desperately needed, and Gov. Mike DeWine has made sure that Ohio is answering the call.
Last week, airmen and soldiers were sent to North Carolina to assist with the recovery from unfathomable flooding and mudslides.
This week, the Ohio National Guard has been activated after a request for assistance from Ohio by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.
"As Florida recovers from one hurricane and braces for another, Ohio is answering the call to help Gov. DeSantis and the entire state," said DeWine. "Forty members of the 200th REDHORSE Squadron are proactively heading to Florida in advance of what is expected to be another catastrophic storm."
REDHORSE -- Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer -- is a civil engineering unit out of Port Clinton's Ohio Air National Guard base. They'll be assessing needed support, cleaning up debris, providing recovery and relief operations and reassuring those in hard-hit areas that help is available and will come from all corners.
"Ohio continues to be ready to help our fellow states in a time of need," said Maj. Gen. John Harris Jr., Ohio adjutant general. "The 200th REDHORSE Squadron is trained to provide a highly mobile, rapidly deployable, civil engineering response force that is self-sufficient to perform heavy damage repair."
Being highly trained and self-sufficient are important reasons why Ohio is sending in this unit -- and the rest of us are still being asked, nicely, to stay out of the way.
What states from Florida through North Carolina and Kentucky are experiencing is unprecedented. We can be proud Ohio is helping, and continue to lend our support through donating to reputable organizations and registering to be evaluated and trained for upcoming volunteer opportunities.
For now, surely the REDHORSE squadron and the others representing Ohio in North Carolina and Florida know our hearts are with them. They deserve continued thanks for their service.