Teams from New York area head to Texas to help with Harvey recovery effort

NEW YORK (WABC) -- The New York Air National Guard is heading to Texas and Louisiana, bringing aircraft, vessels and manpower to respond to Hurricane Harvey.

Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Saturday he deployed the emergency personnel to aid the recovery effort.

Rescue teams, maintenance and support staff from the 106th Rescue Wing of the New York Air National Guard is responding, along with three rescue helicopters, a rescue plane and several boats and watercraft.

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In addition, 7 members of the Red Cross Disaster Assistance Response Team left New York for Texas on Sunday to support the Red Cross response to Hurricane Harvey.

The American Red Cross is working alongside partners across communities in Texas to provide shelter, serve thousands of meals and snacks, distribute relief items, and help people plan their recovery from the devastating flooding.

The team is comprised of active and retired FDNY firefighters who volunteer through the Red Cross during times of disaster.

Mayor Bill de Blasio says New York City is dispatching 120 emergency workers to Texas to help in the response to Harvey.

The Fire Department's Incident Management Team and the Urban Search and Rescue Rapid Response Team are among those headed to the region.

The mayor said the city wants to assist in gratitude for all those who helped New York cope after Superstorm Sandy struck in 2012.

Harvey arrived on land in Texas Friday night as a Category 4 hurricane before being downgraded to a tropical storm. It further weakened while moving inland.

Heavy rains are resulting in major flooding that is expected to cause dangerous conditions for the millions of people who live in the storm's path, particular in and around Houston.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)