September 28, 2017 - 8:11 AM
BOSTON - Gov. Charlie Baker's administration is forming a task force to help residents of hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico who are seeking temporary or permanent residence in Massachusetts.
The Republican governor on Thursday also listed a variety of personnel and supplies the state is prepared to make available to the U.S. territory, if requested by federal agencies co-ordinating relief efforts for the island.
In a statement, Baker said "Massachusetts is ready to welcome disaster survivors" who choose to self-evacuate from Puerto Rico. He said the task force will co-ordinate efforts to provide housing, health care, employment and other services.
Baker, who spoke by telephone on Wednesday with Gov. Richard Rosello, said National Guard soldiers were among those who could be deployed.
More than 250,000 Massachusetts residents are of Puerto Rican descent.
News from © The Associated Press, 2017