Florida governor issues order to help stranded Floridians in Israel

DORAL, FL – Florida’s governor Ron DeSantis is set to help stranded Floridians in Israel following the attack perpetuated by the terrorist organization Hamas on Oct. 7 that caused the death of more than 1,200 people, including 27 Americans, and injured nearly 3,000 more. 

The governor announced that an estimate of 20,000 U.S. citizens remain in the foreign country, including Floridians as this state is home to one of the largest Jewish populations in the world.

But some Americans haven’t been even accounted for while they may be among the estimated 150 hostages captured by Hamas terrorists. 

This reality prompted the state leader to declare an emergency in Florida and to pull funds from the state’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund to pay for any expenses the declaration might cause. 

Executive Order 23-208 (Emergency Management — Impacts of War in Israel) aims to help stranded Floridians in Israel come back home. “We will not leave our residents behind,” DeSantis said in a social media post.

The Florida governor’s order directs the Florida Division of Emergency Management to charter flights for stranded Florida residents and deliver supplies to Israel, Alecia Collins, a spokesperson for the agency, said. 

“This Executive Order will allow the State to carry out logistical, rescue and evacuation operations,” Collins said.

The executive order was announced after the Biden administration said it would also aide Americans stuck in Israel by arranging charter flights beginning on Friday. This is because although some airlines are still flying in and out of Israel, many others have stopped their operations to that country. 

Photo by: Unsplash.com