Governor Terry McAuliffe has authorized the Virginia National Guard to send 120 soldiers to the hard-hit U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Governor made the decision on Friday.

The team being deployed will join a multi-state, multi-agency response effort after recent hurricanes.

An advance team arrived in the region on September 18, just before Hurricane Maria made landfall.

The 120 soldiers are assigned to the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and will deploy in the next week as the mission command headquarters to synchronize the response and coordinate logistical support.

Up to 400 additional soldiers are scheduled to follow soon after to conduct humanitarian assistance, clear roads, and distribute essential supplies to citizens.

“Virginia is ready to help communities facing the long road to recovery from the devastation wrought on their cities and towns by the recent hurricanes,” Governor McAuliffe said.

The Commonwealth has coordinated 10 missions of aid so far.

The largest single mission is readying to deploy this week, including the National Guard personnel headed to the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“The Commonwealth has been able to send needed personnel and supplies into impacted areas to make a difference in the recovery efforts and we will continue to do so for many days and even weeks to come as these impacted areas rebuild,” Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran said.

“We have been leaning forward and keeping a watchful eye on what has happened in Texas and Florida, and we have assembled a great team of professionals who want to get on the ground and start helping people in the Virgin Islands,” Colonel Scott Smith, commander of the 116th said.

Since Hurricane Harvey struck Texas last month, Virginia has been providing emergency management and response assistance across the southeastern portions of the nation.

In late August, the Virginia National Guard sent approximately 40 soldiers and six helicopters to Texas.

After transporting medical personnel and supplies, they safely returned to Virginia in early September.

On September 18, a joint incident management team of 15 individuals from across the Commonwealth deployed to assist with emergency operations center management in the Florida Keys.

The team will provide command and control support in the region through early October.

Several other teams from across Virginia have helped, including

To learn how to help those who have been affected by the recent natural disasters,