The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will soon deploy a 70-member team of emergency response personnel and support equipment to assist in recovery efforts in Puerto Rico, which was left severely damaged in the wake of Hurricane Maria.
“Our hearts go out to our fellow Americans in Puerto Rico as they recover from Hurricane Maria’s unprecedented damage in the Commonwealth,” Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole said. “This agency received help from numerous out-of-state emergency personnel teams in the wake of our own recovery from Superstorm Sandy in 2012, and this deployment is a way for us to give back to others now in need.”
Of the 70 personnel being sent, 45 staffers will come from the Port Authority’s Aviation Department to help resume flight operations at the San Juan International Airport and smaller airfields. The Port Authority’s Police Department will send 10 staffers to assist in search-and-rescue efforts, while the remaining personnel will come from the agency’s Office of Emergency Management to provide additional assistance where needed.
The move follows a similar decision by the Port Authority following Hurricanes Irma and Harvey in which it offered on-the-ground assistance to port communities in Texas and Florida who are recovering from severe flooding.
“The images from Puerto Rico are heartbreaking and we are proud to be part of Gov. Cuomo’s massive emergency response team to assist in the recovery,” Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton said. “Our aviation, port, police, and emergency management staff will bring a wealth of critical expertise in their fields to help their counterparts and residents in the Commonwealth as they recover from this tragic event.”