Members of NYPD, FDNY sent to Caribbean to help with Hurricane Maria recovery

NEW YORK (WABC) -- New York City is lending a helping hand to the victims of Hurricane Maria.

Mayor Bill de Blasio is sending 27 members of the NYPD and FDNY to Puerto Rico and the Caribbean region to assist in the recovery efforts.

They include medics and disaster relief professionals.

The members make up the city's Urban Search and Rescue team, who will likely end up in Puerto Rico depending on the damage.

They plan to gather at a Brooklyn warehouse Wednesday, pack up their equipment and head out to Stewart Air Force Base.

There are 28 FEMA Urban Search and Rescue teams strategically located throughout the United States, which can be deployed within six hours of activation.

This Atlantic hurricane season, New York Task Force One has deployed to assist in the relief efforts following Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma.