Before Hurricane Idalia reached land, Kentucky utility workers were on their way to help restore power. Joe Arnold is the spokesman for Kentucky Electric Cooperatives, the association formed by Kentucky’s 26 electrical co-ops.
“Three crews left on Wednesday morning to head toward Berkeley Electric Cooperative in South Carolina because they were already matched up, we have experience with them in the past, we know their general terrain and what our crews are geared up to be able to do.”
Arnold said Kentucky co-ops have different equipment suited to certain types of challenges – areas struck by storm surges might require boats, while wind-damaged places need crews equipped to repair or replace power lines.
“At this point, you're hoping and praying that the hurricane is not as destructive as what is forecast. However, given what we've seen so far, chances are there's going to be some need for power restoration in Georgia as well. And so those coops that are partnered with them are going to wait to see exactly where they have to go.”
Arnold said workers from 11 of Kentucky’s 26 electrical cooperatives are onsite or enroute to hurricane-ravaged areas, or on standby. Those on scene will need a place to stay. That’s where the Lexington-based Emergency Disaster Services comes in. Spokesman Matt Daley said EDS workers build small, temporary cities that serve as a base of operations.
“We're talking about you, linemen, vegetation experts, folks who are in the public safety field, all staying at one site where they have food, they have restrooms, they have laundry services, they have all the wraparound services that are required to provide them and including that as parking their vehicles.”
Daley said by Thursday morning, between 50 and 100 EDS workers will have set up camps in Sarasota and Perry Florida -- or be in the process of doing so. I’m John McGary.
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