DeSantis to deploy National and State Guardsmen to help Florida ports amid dockworker strike

Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday announced that he would deploy National and State guardsmen to help keep supply chains operating in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, and amid a dockworker strike. 

The storm devastated the Southeast last week as a major Category 4 hurricane, and harmed Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. North Carolina appears to be the hardest hit among southeastern U.S. states. At least 204 have been reported dead so far.

The dockworkers strike, which began earlier this week, shut down ports on the East Coast and in the Gulf, which has halted all shipments despite the hurricane. President Joe Biden has not used any executive authority to help with restoring the ports so far.

The Florida governor claimed during a news conference on Thursday that the president's inaction on the strike has been "unacceptable" and that it has hurt many Floridians "who are reeling from a Category 4 hurricane," by allowing supply chain interruptions.

"At my direction, the Florida National Guard and Florida State Guard will be deployed to critical ports affected to maintain order and, if possible, resume operations which would otherwise be shut down during this interruption," DeSantis said, per Fox Business. "The Florida Department of Transportation is coordinating calls with seaport, rail and trucking partners to ensure that all are prepared and positioned appropriately to limit disruptions to the supply chain and other areas should this continue."

DeSantis urged the Biden-Harris administration to accelerate federal help with the supply chain issues, stating that it needs to do "everything in [its] power" to take care of its people. 

"[The strike] would have significant impacts on the nation's economy anyway, but to have this happen in a way that could negatively impact people that are reeling from a Category 4 hurricane, that is just simply unacceptable," DeSantis said. 

"We need to accelerate, we have no time for delays," he continued. "Biden-Harris has a responsibility to stand up for the storm victims, stand up for the people who have had their homes damaged or have lost their homes, and make sure they have what they need to get back on their feet."

The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) is currently at an impasse in negotiations with port authorities on issues including wages and restricting the automation of ports.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.