Damaged homes in the La Perla neighborhood the day after Hurricane Maria made landfall on in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Alex Wroblewski/Getty Images)

The Metropolitan Police Department is sending 10 officers, many of whom formerly served in Puerto Rico, to assist with relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.

D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham said at a press conference on Tuesday that officers who have relatives in Puerto Rico requested to go to the island and help with relief efforts. Police union officials spoke with Puerto Rican authorities, who welcomed assistance with rebuilding and recovery efforts, he said.

The squad will include one MPD sergeant and nine officers. Eight of the ten officers, including a husband and wife couple, served for the Puerto Rico Police Department about 15 years ago.

“They are familiar with the landscape and people of Puerto Rico and have family in Puerto Rico,” Newsham said. “I cannot be more proud of those folks that stand behind me willing to go to another country to help.”

The officers will be in plain clothes and equipped with satellite phones to communicate, Newsham said.

Govenor Ricardo Rossello told reporters on Monday that the death toll had reached 16 people due to Hurricane Maria, which wrought havoc on the island last week. Residents are struggling to recover amid the devastation of demolished buildings and massive power outages.

San Juan’s mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz described the devastation to CNN as a “humanitarian crisis.” She said officials are finding dialysis patients that haven’t been able to reach their providers and people whose oxygen tanks are running out. “Our bodies are so tired, but our souls are so full of strength, that we will get to everyone that we can get to,” Yulin said.

President Donald Trump said he will visit Puerto Rico to survey the damage on October 3.

The D.C. officers are leaving to assist on Wednesday morning.

This has been updated.