New Yorkers prepare supplies for Puerto Rico

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NEWS) - Mayor Bill de Blasio visited the New York City emergency management warehouse in Brooklyn Thursday where thousands of much-needed donated items are being sorted and packaged to be shipped to hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico.

"Just extraordinary generosity we're seeing from the people of New York City and it keeps growing and growing," de Blasio said.

Puerto Rico continues to have a severe need for humanitarian aid, which the mayor claims our federal government is poorly serving.

"There was a very troubling moment a few days ago when President Trump suggested there is something wrong with the Puerto Rican people -- there's nothing wrong with the Puerto Rican people," de Blasio said. "The only thing that's wrong is the United States' response to this crisis, which has been insufficient. And we have stepped in with everything we have to try and fill that gap."

So far, 265 pallets of donated items have been sorted, including over 12,000 cases of diapers. Workers are enthusiastic to support.

Over the next few days, thousands of the supplies will be shipped to Puerto Rico. When once they arrive at the airport, the OEM will take over and hand them out to those in need.

While the people of Puerto Rico are resilient, they can't recover alone, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito said.

"There is a lot of creativity happening on the island. There are a lot of organizations that, on their own, are going into communities to provide relief that are helping to clear the roads," Mark-Viverito said. "But that alone will not help Puerto Rico move to the next phase."

Right now the biggest need is for diapers, baby food, batteries, first aid supplies, and female hygiene products.

The mayor urges New Yorkers to drop off supplies at specific locations like firehouses and police stations. For a complete list, go to NYC.gov/donations.