[DeSantis] further lamented that “the Biden Administration has failed to launch any form of rescue or evacuation operations for Americans, including Floridians, stranded in the region, and has failed to provide information requested by the State of Florida about any plans for such operations.”

“I declare that a state of emergency exists in the State of Florida,” he continued. “I order the Adjutant General to activate the Florida National Guard, as needed, to deal with this emergency. I further order the Director of the State Guard to activate the Florida State Guard, as needed, to respond to the emergency.”

[It’s not clear that this *required* a declaration of emergency; normal gubernatorial authority would likely have covered these EOs. To the extent that it facilitates repatriation of Floridians and Americans in general, great, but perhaps that executive competency could have spoken for itself. As a rule, I prefer normal governance to emergency rule when possible. — Ed]