Hurricane Maria: New York Pauses Plan To Deploy National Guard For Storm Recovery

ALBANY, NY — As millions suffered under the force of Hurricane Irma in the Southeast and across the Caribbean, the New York Army National Guard prepared to deploy more than a hundred members to help relief efforts in the U.S. Virgin Islands. But those plans have been put on hold Monday as the region hunkers down for its newest threat: Hurricane Maria.

National Guard officials say Monday that the departure of 100 soldiers in a Buffalo-based military police unit and 30 troopers has been delayed because of the new storm, which strengthened into a Category 3 storm as it pushed toward the eastern Caribbean. (For more news from Albany, subscribe to the Albany Patch for breaking news alerts and daily newsletters.)

The New York contingent was set to depart from Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station aboard a military aircraft for St. Thomas, one of several Caribbean islands devastated by Hurricane Irma.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced he was sending aid to the U.S. Virgin Islands during a one-day visit to the U.S. territory last Friday.

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