Gov.-elect Phil Murphy will land in storm-ravaged Puerto Rico Friday to lead a nearly two-dozen New Jersey delegation to the island that was ravaged by Hurricane Maria in September.

Murphy and the state's future first lady, Tammy Murphy, are scheduled to meet with Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello. They also plan to tour a shelter and get briefed on the recovery effort.

"With the nation's third-largest Puerto Rican population, hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans have family and other loved ones on the island living in Maria's aftermath," Murphy said in a statement. "We are going to send a clear message that we have not forgotten our fellow countrymen."

Murphy will be joined by nearly a dozen elected officials, Puerto Rican business leaders and church community.

The incoming governor is scheduled to land shortly after noon and meet privately with the governor of the U.S. territory, according to his schedule. Later, he plans to get briefed by FEMA and other officials, and visit Bayamon Regional Hospital and a shelter at Sports and Recreation Headquarters

The delegation consists of state Sens. Nilsa Cruz-Perez, D-Camden; Nellie Pou, D-Passaic; and Teresa Ruiz, D-Essex; and Assemblywomen Annette Chaparro, D-Hudson; Annette Quija, D-Hudson; and Yvonne Lopez, D-Middlesex.

PSE&G President and CEO Ralph Izzo will also travel with the delegation.

Murphy replaces Gov. Chris Christie on Jan. 16.

In September, Christie sent hundreds of emergency workers, including New Jersey's National Guard and State Police, to Puerto Rico to help with the recovery after Maria devastated the island's of 3.4 million people.

The officers helped deliver water, food and other supplies.

It was the state's largest deployment of first responders for a disaster outside of New Jersey since Hurricane Katrina hit states along the Gulf of Mexico, Christie said when he authorized the deployment.

Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico on Sept. 20 as a Category 4 storm with winds of 155 mph, the strongest to hit the island in a century.

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook.