JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – The state of Mississippi will send assets to Florida in response to Hurricane Helene.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) has coordinated with the Mississippi National Guard and the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security to send two Blackhawk helicopters with crews and search and rescue teams. This will be a total of 26 personnel.

“Florida has always stepped up to help us in our time of need, it’s time to be there for our friends when they need it the most,” said MEMA Executive Director Stephen McCraney.

Helene is expected to bring “catastrophic” storm surge and wind after making landfall on Florida’s northwestern coast, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm is expected to rapidly intensify into a Category 4 storm and make landfall Thursday night.