NYC Sends Emergency Team To Puerto Rico After Earthquakes

NEW YORK CITY — A team of New York City City engineers and emergency workers are headed to Puerto Rico after several massive earthquakes devastated the island, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday morning.

“Unlike the Trump Administration, New York City will always be there to support our fellow Americans in Puerto Rico,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“The pain experienced by our neighbors due to these disasters is weighing on the hearts and minds of all of us."

The 24-person team — which includes 15 building inspectors and engineers, seven emergency managers and two mental health professionals — will head to San Juan, Guayanilla, Ponce, Guánica and Peñuelas to join four other New York City staffers, de Blasio said.

Nearly 2,000 earthquakes have slammed the island since Dec. 28, causing hundreds of buildings to crumble, forcing thousands to flee their homes and leaving millions without power.

President Donald Trump stalled releasing more than $18 billion in relief funding to Puerto Rico, causing an uproar among progressive Democrats in Washington.

De Blasio announced his team would depart for the U.S. territory hours after Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he'd personally fly to Puerto Rico to assist with the recovery.

“The point of the visit is basically to assess the damage and determine how we can best help," Cuomo said. "Puerto Ricans are American citizens ... this is our family and our family is in trouble."