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Minnesota National Guard helps with hurricane relief efforts in Florida

Six soldiers and a helicopter will head to Florida as it recovers from the Category 4 hurricane.

By Mary Lynn Smith

October 11, 2018 at 10:46PM

Gov. Mark Dayton ordered the Minnesota National Guard to help with relief efforts in Florida in the wake of Hurricane Michael.

The hurricane, which was one of the most powerful hurricanes to hit continental U.S. in more than 50 years, left a trail of destruction in Florida's Panhandle. Although it was reduced to a tropical storm on Thursday, it continued to wreak havoc with heavy rain that caused flash flooding.

Under Dayton's emergency order, six National Guard soldiers and a CH-47 Chinook heavy transport helicopter will head to Florida to assist with recovery efforts.

The National Guard as well as the Minnesota Department of Public Safety's Homeland Security and Emergency Management division plan to monitor requests for additional hurricane assistance.

Mary Lynn Smith • 612-673-4788

about the writer

Mary Lynn Smith

Reporter

Mary Lynn Smith is a general assignment reporter for the Star Tribune. She previously covered St. Paul City Hall and Ramsey County. Before that, she worked in Duluth where she covered local and state government and business. She frequently has written about the outdoors.