City officials on Thursday outlined plans to help provide immediate relief to Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria. NY1's Grace Rauh filed the following report.

Hurricane Maria whipped through Puerto Rico, leaving a path of destruction and dangerous floodwaters in its wake.

The entire island is without electricity, and it could be months before it is restored.  

"To not be able to connect and hear from our loved ones, when you think of our hospitals and nursing homes, and the people that need our medical equipment or access to batteries or electricity, I don't want to think of the dire consequences that lie ahead," said City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito.

For the Council speaker and 700,000 other New Yorkers of Puerto Rican descent, this is personal.

Rep. Nydia Velazquez has family on the island.

"I have been using Facebook, every app in the world to reach out to them, and I have not been successful," Velazquez said.

Velazquez estimates it will cost $10 billion for Puerto Rico to recover from the storm.

Long before the hurricane hit, the U.S. territory was grappling with a severe fiscal crisis.

"We have to do another disaster relief package, and we have to do it soon," Velazquez said.

The city is sending dozens of police and firefighters to help. There are already nine on Puerto Rico and another 27 emergency responders being dispatched as well. The city's Office of Emergency Management is moving at least eight of its employees to San Juan. City employees who want to go as volunteers may do so. 

"Any who are willing to go and help in a volunteer capacity, we will facilitate that," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. "We are working to get free airfare and accommodation."

The city is also going to be collecting batteries, first aid supplies, diapers and baby food for Puerto Rico and setting up donation spots in all five boroughs.

The road to recovery will be long and costly. But on Thursday, de Blasio seemed to want to make it clear that New York City stands with Puerto Rico.