A view of the aftermath from Superstorm Sandy at Howard Beach, New York. (Photo by Pam_Andrade/flickr) 

By The Associated Press

SPRINGFIELD - Fifteen emergency responders from Illinois are headed to New York City to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Gov. Pat Quinn announced yesterday that 13 local emergency managers and two employees from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency were deployed. Quinn's office says the workers will help with operations and logistics in the city's emergency operations center. They'll be gone for two weeks, returning to Illinois on Nov. 16.

McLean County Emergency Management Agency Director Curt Hawk said McLean County was not included in the deployment, but remains on standby.

State officials say the deployment is the first from Illinois as part of the U.S.'s state-to-state mutual aid system. 

Quinn says Illinois will ``provide any assistance we can.''