New York emergency crews respond to Texas floods

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NEWS) - With the floods from Hurricane Harvey ravaging Houston, help has already arrived from the New York area. More supplies and resources are on the way including some of life's most basic necessities.

The federal government admitted that it can't do all the rescue work in Texas itself and openly asked for help. Urban search-and-rescue teams from New Jersey geared up for their life-saving mission.

Mayor Bill de Blasio made sure New York answered the call, too. He said 120 members of the NYPD, FDNY, and EMS deployed to Texas. The New York contingent includes specially trained firefighters from the incident response team as well as search-and-rescue experts from the Department of Emergency Management. Emergency Management Commissioner Joseph Esposito said the teams have taken boats, tractor-trailers, and other equipment.

While the heartbreaking scenes of challenge and survival tear at the hearts of New Yorkers, the severe conditions make it impossible to actually send any supplies for now.

The ICNA relief organization in Jamaica, Queens, is coordinating with its southwest affiliate to supply water and emergency kits and services once conditions improve.

Another urgent need is electricity. But with the severe flooding and rain, it is still too early to tell if the help of New York area utilities will be needed.