Governor Ron DeSantis Oversees Emergency Flight Saving 28 Stranded Floridians from Category 5 Hurricane Melissa as Plane Lands Safely in Tampa
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is being praised nationwide after successfully coordinating the emergency rescue of 28 Floridians trapped in Jamaica during the devastating Category 5 Hurricane Melissa. The mission, completed late on November 1, 2025, brought the stranded travelers safely back to Tampa aboard a state-arranged flight, marking a moment of relief amid one of the strongest late-season hurricanes to strike the Caribbean in recent memory.
The storm, which made landfall on Jamaica’s southern coast on October 30, unleashed catastrophic winds topping 160 mph, causing widespread flooding, power outages, and destruction of infrastructure. Communication lines were down for nearly 24 hours, leaving hundreds of American tourists cut off and unable to reach emergency services. Among them were nearly 30 Floridians vacationing in Montego Bay and Kingston, who were reported missing by relatives in the hours following the hurricane’s landfall.
According to a statement from the Governor’s Office, DeSantis immediately directed the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) and state aviation partners to coordinate with Jamaican officials and U.S. consular staff to organize an evacuation plan. “I am happy to report that just now, a rescue flight with 28 Floridians aboard has landed safely in Tampa. Great work everyone!” DeSantis said in a post Friday evening.
The aircraft, operated in partnership with the Florida National Guard and a contracted humanitarian air service, took off from Sangster International Airport under heavy weather advisories. Onboard were families and senior citizens who had been stranded for over 36 hours without food, water, or power. According to early accounts, the group endured intense conditions in a partially flooded hotel lobby before being rescued by Jamaican police and U.S. embassy staff.
A spokesperson for FDEM confirmed that the rescue operation was part of Florida’s ongoing regional disaster response initiative, established after similar missions during the Haiti and Bahamas crises. “The Governor made it clear from the start — if Floridians are in danger, we act fast. This rescue was about cutting through red tape and saving lives,” said agency spokesperson Jared Phelps.
The operation has been met with widespread praise from residents and political observers across the state. Social media flooded with messages commending the Governor’s swift response, with users calling it “leadership in action” and “exactly why Florida sets the standard.” Conservative commentators drew comparisons between DeSantis’s decisive actions and what they described as “bureaucratic delays” under previous administrations during international crises.
Hurricane Melissa, now downgraded to Category 3 as it moved north of Cuba, left behind a path of devastation across Jamaica. The country’s prime minister, Andrew Holness, described the event as “a national emergency unlike anything we’ve faced in decades.” Over 400,000 residents lost access to clean water, and dozens of communities remain isolated. In response, DeSantis also announced that Florida would send additional aid to the island, including emergency medical supplies and power restoration teams.
This is not the first time DeSantis has mobilized Florida’s disaster response network beyond state borders. In 2023, he authorized relief missions to Texas following severe flooding, and in 2024, Florida provided emergency equipment to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Owen. His administration has earned a reputation for rapid, self-reliant crisis management — a signature aspect of his leadership that continues to draw national attention.
The Governor emphasized that Florida’s emergency readiness programs are designed to operate without waiting for federal intervention. “We don’t ask who’s responsible. We ask, ‘What can we do right now?’ That’s the Florida way,” DeSantis said during a briefing in Tallahassee.
For the rescued Floridians, the return home was an emotional one. Many expressed gratitude to the Governor and rescue teams for their swift coordination and courage under extreme conditions. One evacuee told reporters upon arrival at Tampa International Airport, “We were scared, hungry, and couldn’t reach anyone. Then we heard Florida was sending a plane for us. That’s when we knew we were going home.”
As cleanup continues across Jamaica and other affected Caribbean regions, the successful mission stands as both a humanitarian victory and a testament to Florida’s growing capacity for international disaster response. For Governor DeSantis, it marks another high-profile moment showcasing the kind of leadership that resonates deeply with his supporters — proactive, organized, and unflinchingly decisive in moments of crisis.
