Emergency managers from the Rio Grande Valley got a firsthand look at how crews restore power after a hurricane.

Officials from Cameron County and surrounding areas met with AEP Texas in Robstown on Tuesday to see how the company organizes crews and equipment when a storm hits.

The event marked the first time AEP Texas invited local officials and members of the media to see how the company organizes crews of linemen to restore power.

"If something is coming our way, we really need to look at ourselves first and try to get out of harm because we really don't have a barrier to protect us," Cameron County Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator Juan Sebastian Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez says vulnerable communities are more at risk during a power outage.

"Many of them rely on having medical equipment that's kept on," Gonzalez said. "If we don't tell which company needs to keep that light going, then we're going to have issues with those individuals."

AEP Texas showed officials how the company plans ahead using data and science to know how many poles, how much wire, and how many workers are needed.

The company also uses drones to help crews identify problem areas and assess storm damage, including larger, plane-like drones that replace the need for helicopters.

AEP set up a trailer where linemen stay when hotel rooms are limited. The company also brought a mobile generator to kickstart power in areas needing reconnection.

"The faster we can assess the storm damage to see if our facilities are destroyed or if they can be repaired, the faster we can get to work restoring power," AEP Texas spokesperson Omar Lopez said.

Watch the video above for the full story.