Weeks after Hurricane Irma passed over Florida, three dozen doctors, nurses and first responders from Massachusetts headed south to help build a temporary hospital. That team, which included Amesbury Assistant Fire Chief David Mather, has now returned and are talking about the relief effort.
Massachusetts is sending a team of 69 police officers from across the state to help provide security in Puerto Rico.
Republican Gov. Charlie Baker said Wednesday the state was responding to a request for help from the hurricane-ravaged island.
The officers will help local police enforce curfews and other security measures.
The six-week deployment includes state and local police officers, divided into three separate two-week rotations. It also includes 13 Massachusetts State Police cruisers to be used during the deployment.
Baker said Federal Emergency Management Agency officials will arrange for the military to fly the cruisers to Puerto Rico, and return them.
Last week, Baker announced he was sending a six-person National Guard unit to Puerto Rico for up to 30 days to help with satellite-based data and mobile communications.
