President Trump urged residents of Puerto Rico to "be careful" and offered reassurance to the U.S. territory that he would would help the territory recover as it braces itself for Hurricane Maria, a Category Five hurricane.

"Puerto Rico being hit hard by new monster Hurricane," Trump tweeted Tuesday evening. "Be careful, our hearts are with you- will be there to help!"

Trump issued an emergency declaration for the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, making the territories eligible for federal funding for disaster relief.

Puerto Rico being hit hard by new monster Hurricane. Be careful, our hearts are with you- will be there to help! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 20, 2017

The hurricane is expected to hit Puerto Rico early Wednesday morning as a "potentially catastrophic" Category 5 storm.

The National Hurricane Center said Tuesday "Locations may be uninhabitable for weeks or months."