Florida lands another flight of Americans out of Haiti

ORLANDO, Fla. – Twenty-one more Americans, including nine Floridians, have been flown into Florida from Haiti in the state’s second chartered flight out of the crisis-stricken Caribbean country, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

The flight landed late Saturday in Orlando, a news release states.

After the first such state-ordered flight landed Wednesday at Orlando-Sanford International Airport, the total number of Americans that Florida has chartered out of Haiti reached 35 Saturday, according to FDEM. The figure did not include that of 13 other Americans who Florida Rep. Cory Mills, R-District 7, said Monday he had evacuated out of Port-au-Prince.

Upon landing, the 21 passengers were reportedly given access via state agencies, private sector partners and volunteer organizations to resources such as lodging, transport, medical screenings, ID replacements, childcare supplies, phones, food and water.

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Gov. Ron DeSantis on March 15 issued an executive order — EO 24-49 — declaring a state of emergency in Florida for 60 days amid requests from distressed Floridians stranded in Haiti, in part directing FDEM to conduct evacuation operations.

“The Division is working around the clock through every available avenue to get our residents home,” FDEM Executive Director Kevin Guthrie said in a statement. “Governor DeSantis directed us to tackle every challenge in our path and not stop until the mission is complete.”

Those who know someone unable to leave Haiti, or who are unable to leave the country themselves, were encouraged by the state to visit FloridaDisaster.org/Haiti and fill out a “Haiti Request for Evacuation” form.

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