Jacksonville sailors prepared to help after Nate

Sailors in Jacksonville are prepared to help people in the path of Hurricane Nate, which is expected to make landfall overnight Saturday as a Category 1 hurricane.

Naval Station Mayport is sending two ships to the Gulf of Mexico to assist in disaster relief efforts.

As Nate narrows in on Louisiana and Alabama, the Naval Station Mayport-based USS New York set sail Saturday to help with disaster relief efforts.

The USS Iwo Jima will also assist, but the Navy says its departure was delayed because of a mechanical issue with the ship's propulsion system.

The vessels will head toward the Gulf behind the hurricane, to be in place if the Federal Emergency Management Agency needs help.

Between the two ships, there are about 1,500 sailors. Action News Jax was told they will stay out in the Gulf for as long as their help is needed.

“That's a good deed they are doing,” Jacksonville resident Alvin Brown said, adding it’s been a horrible hurricane season and his thoughts are with the people living along the Gulf.

“All my prayers going out to the people that's going through disasters and the people that are about to get ready to go through anything,” Brown said.

About two weeks ago, the vessels returned to Jacksonville after working Hurricane Irma relief efforts in the Florida Keys.

In that mission, crews cleared debris from roadways, distributed food and other supplies and repaired critical infrastructure.

They’ll do that again if needed following Nate.

Army veteran Cathleen Brace said she’s proud of the job these sailors are doing. “It's not just always war .... It's about civil defense, and helping our country where it's needed.”

Cox Media Group