SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A contractor from outside of Albany, Zac Bonesteel decided to put his skill set to good use last fall by volunteering in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.

"My first time [volunteering] was Puerto Rico after Maria,” Bonesteel said while finishing up work at a client’s home in Saratoga Springs Wednesday morning. “I think it is just a good thing to do."

Working with the non-profit All Hands and Hearts, Bonesteel was one of many first-time volunteers, but one of a only a handful with construction experience.

“As long as you can psychologically deal with it, some of these groups will accept anybody that is just willing to work hard,” he said.

With Hurricane Florence threatening the east coast, thousands of volunteers are expected to arrive in the Carolinas in the weeks ahead to deal with whatever damage the storm leaves behind.

"All Hands and Hearts has a fast response team that I’m sure is already waiting,” Bonesteel said. “They will go in immediately after the hurricane."

Bonesteel says volunteers should be prepared to work in extreme conditions.

 “If you are going in on day one or soon after, you are going into an actual disaster zone that probably does not have power and there are still trees down," Bonesteel said.

He says the work is especially taxing mentally.

“Just the devastation is unbelievable,” he said. “You think you are prepared to see it and you are not.”

It’s also physically demanding.

"It is hot and humid,” he said. “It is not pretty. Is definitely not glamorous work at all by any means.”

Despite the rigors, Bonesteel will return to Puerto Rico this January for a second round of volunteer work.  

“I don’t think I can walk away from it yet. They are not at a stage where it is done," said Bonesteel, who currently has no plans to head to the Carolinas but said that could change depending on the devastation there. “

Whether on U.S. soil or abroad, volunteer work is something Bonesteel urges all to consider.

"You can sit around and wait for other people to help but that does not get anything done,” he said.

Bonesteel has a GoFundMe page setup to help pay for supplies for his upcoming trip to Puerto Rico. Anyone interested in donating can access the page here.