With 300,000 Puerto Ricans already living in Massachusetts, the state is a likely landing point for many of those displaced by Hurricane Maria.

Gov. Charlie Baker and members of the Legislature's black and Latino caucus are working to prepare.

"We anticipate a significant number of people who lost their homes, in many cases probably their jobs and maybe even the schools that their kids have gone to, will probably find their way here to the commonwealth, because they have friends and family who are here," Baker said.

According to state officials, several state agencies are beginning to meet to develop plans for helping anyone who flees Puerto Rico, once it is possible to leave the island. This could include providing financial assistance, housing, health care, jobs or reunification services.

Baker said the state wants to be in a position where people can be met at the airport and signed up for whatever types of federal emergency benefits they are eligible for. State officials will also try to ensure people have the case management services they need.

"For a lot of them, it's going to be a very rough and very immediate and disruptive transition," Baker said.

Rep. Carlos Gonzalez, D-Springfield, who has family in Puerto Rico, said Springfield has one of the largest Puerto Rican communities in the mainland U.S. Gonzalez is talking to state and local officials to ensure that the city can provide whatever is needed, whether schooling or health services. Gonzalez said the state may need to be flexible about things like letting children go to school without their immunization records or relaxing standards for allowing guests to stay with friends or family in public housing.

"I'm very encouraged by the direction that the city of Springfield has been moving in to look at what we can do in advance to make sure that we can accommodate but also provide necessary resources if and when they come," Gonzalez said.

Baker said Massachusetts is continuing to monitor a national online system, which is how states request mutual assistance during a disaster. Massachusetts will submit a bid if Puerto Rico requests something the state can help with, and it will be up to the Federal Emergency Management Agency to decide whether to accept help from Massachusetts or another state.

"We're talking about a process and a program that's going to go on for months and probably years. And I fully expect that as the feds ask for our assistance, we'll provide it," Baker said.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rep. Jeffrey Sanchez, D-Boston, who has family in Puerto Rico, said he is happy the governor and mayors across the state are paying attention to Puerto Rico. "Their hearts and their actions are in the right place," Sanchez said.

Sanchez said there is still a lot of need on the island, with difficulties getting basic supplies to people and communication lines down.

"It's going to be a long road," Sanchez said. "But I feel like people are engaged in it. We just have to make sure we stick to it."