Long Island Red Cross members are on their way to Louisiana after Ida made landfall Sunday afternoon as a Category 4 hurricane.

The National Weather Service had issued an extreme wind warning with gusts around 150 mph and 16-foot storm surge.

Officials warned residents of the severeness of Ida. Many residents listened to the warning and evacuated while others stayed behind to ride out the storm.

“This is a monster coming here,” says Terrebonne Parish President Gordon Dove. “This is nothing to play with.”

Members of the American Red Cross on Long Island are preparing to head to Louisiana to help those impacted.

Bruce Vesloski recalls helping after Hurricane Katrina. He says when he saw Ida, he had to volunteer to help again.

“It is 16 years later and I am back there again,” says Bruce Veloski.

Veloski is a member of the Carle Place Red Cross. He is joining other New Yorkers heading to Baton Rouge.

“We are gonna be distributing hot meals, cold water, supplies to clean up,” says Veloski. “We are there to help.”

FEMA’s New York Task Force 1 - Urban Search and Rescue has been activated and is heading to the Gulf Coast as well.