Florida Governor Ron DeSantis authorized state troops to go to ports throughout the state that are being impacted by dock worker strikes so that they can stay open and functioning as the southern part of the country reels from a deadly hurricane that has killed hundreds.

DeSantis, who made the remarks during a press conference early on Thursday, said that the Florida National Guard and Florida State Guard were being deployed to “critical ports affected to maintain order and, if possible, resume operations which would otherwise be shut down during this interruption.”

The announcement comes after Hurricane Helene ripped through several southern states late last week, leading to severe flooding that has devastated numerous communities and killed at least 200 people.

“And I would say that this is something that would have significant impacts on the nation’s economy anyways, but to have this happen in a way that could negatively impact people that are reeling from a Category 4 Hurricane, that is just simply unacceptable,” DeSantis said. “So it really is incumbent upon the Biden-Harris administration to do everything in their power to ensure that these goods are where we need to be, that people are not left hanging out in the cold waiting for these goods if they’re sitting in the ocean somewhere and they’re not being able to be used here in the state of Florida or in Georgia or in North Carolina, or where people are going to desperately need this.”

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He said that Biden-Harris had a “responsibility to stand up for the storm victims, stand up for the people who have had their homes damaged or who have lost their homes, and make sure they have what they need to get back on their feet.”

The governor also announced the following measures to help the flow of goods from ports to consumers:

“The Florida National Guard and Florida State Guard will be deployed to ports affected by the strike to maintain order and, where possible, resume operations at ports which are otherwise shut down.” “The Florida Department of Transportation will waive the collection of tolls and fees as well as size and weight restrictions for commercial vehicles, which will help expedite the transportation of goods from our ports while offsetting operational costs.” “The Florida Highway Patrol will manage the flow of traffic from all Florida seaports as needed to further expedite the flow of goods held up by the strike. FHP will provide law enforcement escorts for commercial motor vehicles upon request.”

“Unlike the federal government, Florida is taking decisive action to ensure that our economy continues to function and that victims of Hurricane Helene will have access to what they need to rebuild,” he added in a statement.

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At my direction, the Florida National Guard and the Florida State Guard will be deployed to critical ports affected by the strike to maintain order and, where possible, resume operations.

It is unacceptable for the Biden-Harris administration to allow supply chain interruptions… pic.twitter.com/KfzVbBgI10

— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) October 3, 2024

The dock worker strike that reportedly cost the economy billions per day just weeks before the election has ended with the union and port ownership striking a “tentative agreement” on Thursday.

In a joint statement, the International Longshoremen’s Association and port ownership, represented by the United States Maritime Alliance, announced they would extend the expired contract until January.

The two sides said they “have reached a tentative agreement on wages and have agreed to extend the Master Contract until January 15, 2025 to return to the bargaining table to negotiate all other outstanding issues.”

“Effective immediately, all current job actions will cease and all work covered by the Master Contract will resume,” the statement read.

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The wage agreement reportedly consists of a $4 an hour raise for each year of the six year contract. The final details of the deal still have to be worked out.

The tentative deal still has to be ratified by rank-and-file union members. If members vote against it, the strike could start again.

President Biden praised the new agreement in a statement.

“Today’s tentative agreement on a record wage and an extension of the collective bargaining process represents critical progress towards a strong contract,” Biden said.

“I congratulate the dockworkers from the ILA, who deserve a strong contract after sacrificing so much to keep our ports open during the pandemic. And I applaud the port operators and carriers who are members of the US Maritime Alliance for working hard and putting a strong offer on the table,” the president added.

Biden could have forced the strikers back to work by invoking the Taft Hartley act, which requires a 80-day cooling off period, but he refused to do so.

On Wednesday, Vice President Kamala Harris endorsed the strike.

Harris put out a statement saying the strike is about “fairness,” and blamed “foreign-owned shipping companies” for their “record profits” and bigger executive salaries. The Democratic presidential nominee found herself caught between courting the union vote and averting economic disaster.

The dockworkers union has donated more than $1.6 million to Democrats under union president Harold Daggett, who threatened to “cripple” the economy if dockworkers did not get the contract they wanted.

Daggett endorsed President Joe Biden, but began lashing out at the White House as the strike drew near.

The massive strike snarled supply chains, and consumers could still feel some effects over the next month despite the strike lasting only a few days.

However, many food sellers such as packaged food maker ConAgra stocked products early since they saw the strike coming. The union’s negotiations broke down over the summer.

Nevertheless, some shoppers panic bought items like toilet paper, which ran out at Costco stores across the country, as shoppers tried to stock up.