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EMCs stay busy with hurricane relief efforts

Linemen from 17 electric membership corporations (EMCs) across Georgia headed to Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi to help electric co-ops restore power to areas hardest hit following Hurricane Katrina.

Among them were two crews of eight linemen from Coweta-Fayette EMC who headed to Jackson, Ala. near Mobile. They were ready and eager to help out in any way they could. Plans are for them to stay about 12 days, and then they will be replaced by other crews from the EMC.

The EMCs in Georgia have extensive experience in restoring power following destruction from a variety of weather events, including hurricanes. In recent years, EMC crews have worked alongside co-ops in South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida. It was reported that 30,000 utility poles were broken just in one area alone, so these crews definitely have their work cut out for them.

Coweta-Fayette also sent crews to aid Carroll EMC last Tuesday due to the destruction caused by tornadoes in their service area. “We are glad to be able to help these sister co-ops in their time of need,” says Michael Whiteside, Coweta-Fayette EMC President & CEO.

“We would have sent them earlier but our first priority is to be sure our members are taken care of first. We were indeed lucky to have escaped the destruction set off by Katrina.”