Mass. Offers Help To States Hit Harder By Sandy

Massachusetts is lending a hand to states hit harder by the devastating hybrid storm Sandy.

Gov. Deval Patrick on Wednesday authorized the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency to lend seven staffers to the New York State Emergency Operations Center in Albany to help coordinate New York's recovery efforts.

Patrick said Massachusetts was "fortunate," and now wants to assist others.

In addition to the staffers sent to New York, Massachusetts has deployed a search and rescue team to Connecticut and New York, and sent two National Guard Blackhawk helicopters to New Jersey.

Under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, emergency workers of any state offering assistance to another state are given the same rights, duties and privileges as the emergency personnel of the requesting state, except for the power of arrest.