Governor Ron DeSantis has announced the launch of “Operation Blue Ridge” to assist with recovery efforts in North Carolina and Tennessee following the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene. The initiative aims to support Floridians stranded in the Blue Ridge Mountains and Tennessee Valley. The operation will deploy multiple state agencies, including the Florida Division of Emergency Management, the Florida National Guard, and the Florida Department of Transportation. Helene has caused major flooding and damage across the southern Appalachian Mountains, with at least 64 confirmed fatalities nationwide.