Florida sends assistance to Vermont in response to historic flooding

BARRE, Vt. (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that Florida will send a team of floodplain management specialists to aid communities in Vermont that have been hit by historic flooding.

The team will work with the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources to estimate damages, provide training, and participate in field inspections of flood-damaged structures.

“The devastation caused by catastrophic flooding has left citizens in Vermont in need of assistance as they begin the long process of recovery,” DeSantis said. “The State of Florida is proud to deploy these specialized teams and stands ready to provide additional support.”

“Florida’s floodplain management officials are nationally recognized as leaders in their field and are prepared to provide needed support in response to historic flooding in Vermont,” Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Kevin Guthrie said.

“The Division remains willing and able to deploy additional assistance as requested through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact,” he said.

DeSantis has in the past used the state’s resources to help other communities around the country when they needed assistance.

In June, the governor sent personnel to aid the state of Iowa after an apartment building in the city of Davenport collapsed.

This decision came with controversial pushback by NBC News, who claimed that DeSantis bragged about helping the state even after Iowa supposedly informed him that aid was not needed. This claim was quickly rebuked by Iowa officials.

Additionally, the governor sent Florida law enforcement to help Texas and Arizona in their border patrol efforts to combat illegal immigration.