As Hurricane Ida gained strength and moved toward landfall in Louisiana, power crews from Florida packed their bags and headed for Louisiana.

Duke Energy Florida, Florida Power & Light, Orlando Utilities Commission and Kissimmee Utility Authority strike teams traveled this weekend to get closer to the region so they can move in after the storm has passed.

"Those resources will include linemen, vegetation management crews and damage assessors," Duke Energy said Saturday.

Duke Energy said its crews will be stationed in north Florida before continuing on to Louisiana, where they will work alongside crews from Entergy Louisiana. More than 750 Florida Power & Light employees and contractors will assist Entergy Louisiana and Cleco with their restoration efforts where they are needed. KUA crews are stationing in Pensacola and will head to Lafayette, La., on Monday, officials said. 

OUC indicated that it expects the 12 techs it has sent will remain in Louisiana for at least two weeks.

When the crews get to Louisiana, they will have to deal with downed power lines, trees on lines and power lines across roads.

OUC management says they’re prepared for a lot of damage to the electrical system, but there are surprises when it comes to hurricane damage.

“We don’t know what we’re walking into," Christopher Taylor of OUC's electric construction and management group said. "The guys are prepared to build it from the ground up. Assuming that nothing is there, they’re prepared to get the residents of Louisiana back up and running.”

In the utility industry, companies in Florida will help Louisiana and other states, and in return, they’ll help Florida following a natural disaster. If the area needs help past two weeks, OUC crews that headed out Sunday will come back and another will take its place. 

“As Floridians who have faced dangerous hurricanes like Andrew and Michael before, we understand how critical it is to have support from other utilities during restoration events,” FPL President and Chief Executive Officer Eric Silagy said. “Just as our neighboring utilities have come to Florida to support us, we will be there for our brothers and sisters in need, getting their communities back up and running safely."

Hurricane Ida became a Category 4 storm before making landfall Sunday with 150-mph winds.