Generac, Red Cross Wisconsin volunteers head down to Louisiana to help following Hurricane Ida

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WAUKESHA, Wis. (CBS 58) - Some organizations in Wisconsin already have plans to send people South to help with the recovery efforts from Hurricane Ida.

Five crews with Generac are volunteering the next two weeks to help repair people's generators. The volunteers loaded up five vans with more than $100,000 worth of product on Monday, Aug. 30.

"We've got people on the production floor, we've got sales people and obviously technicians," Director of Global Service Operations Jake Thomas said. "They should have everything they need to repair 95 percent of generators."

Crews will repair generators for free. Thomas said this work is crucial as millions remain without power.

"We also will be doing maintenance on portable generators as well, that people can bring over and we'll trying to get them up and running," he said.

Generac already has a second crew ready to go after the first crew comes back next week. The volunteers will focus mostly on Generac generators, but will do what they can to help those without one.

"We won't turn anybody away, as long as we can help them," Thomas said.

The crews will depart at 7 a.m. Tuesday morning and hope to start working in Louisiana and Mississippi by Thursday morning.

"We know that we're doing something good for the communities that are affected and it's just a great opportunity for our guys to get out in the field and help," Thomas said.

The Red Cross Wisconsin already has three volunteers helping out in Louisiana.

"They are down there helping with the sheltering operation," CEO Mark Thomas said.

Mark Thomas said they are helping people find housing, food and other supplies they may have lost in the storm.

"They've been quite busy, even through the night and into the day," he said.

Thomas is looking for more people willing to help out, as volunteers will likely be needed for months.

"We know that over the upcoming weeks, and once we get a full assessment of the damage, we believe that the needs are going to increase," he said.

If you are interested in volunteering, head to redcross.org/volunteertoday for more information.

Thomas said monetary donations are also needed. You can text "RedCross" to 90999 for a $10 donation.

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