Hurricane Maria makes landfall in Puerto Rico

BOSTON — Hurricane Maria officially made landfall in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, with winds of 155 mph Wednesday morning, and once the storm passes a local FEMA team will head to the island to assist with clean-up efforts.

WATCH: Hurricane Maria slams into Puerto Rico

Hurricane Maria is drowning islands in the Caribbean and is now taking aim at Puerto Rico Wednesday morning.

The U.S. territory has opened 500 shelters across the island to try and keep everyone safe from what is expected to be the most powerful storm to hit the island in 90 years.

Now some local FEMA workers are preparing to head to Puerto Rico after Maria moves through.

Twenty-seven of FEMA’s Massachusetts task force will gather in Beverly at 8 a.m.

They will then fly out of Westover Air Base in Chicopee Wednesday afternoon or early evening, once the airport in San Juan can receive aircraft.

Last month the team was sent to Houston to help the city recover after historic flooding from Hurricane Harvey.

Now the same 27 members will join six others already in Puerto Rico to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.

The storm is a category 4 storm with winds of 155 mph and is now the second major hurricane to impact the island in two weeks.

“We’re all worried about them,: Jackie Maldonado said. “I hope everybody finds shelter and everything works out for them because it’s very scary.”

Cox Media Group