Officials say dozens of police and firefighters from New York City have been sent to areas impacted by Hurricane Matthew for disaster relief efforts.

Battalion Chief Joe Downey says 45 FDNY and NYPD members trained in disaster response will help people affected by the powerful storm. Downey says the unit will likely be focused on water operations.

The unit was previously sent to Louisiana during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and to Haiti in 2010 following a destructive earthquake.

Hundreds of Red Cross workers and volunteers have been on standby in the hurricane zone. Con Edison crews also are ready to lend a hand as needed.

Units from the East Coast and Midwest are staging at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Georgia.

(AP)