LINCOLN — Lincoln Electric System is deploying staff and vehicles to help utilities in Georgia with anticipated power restoration efforts caused by Hurricane Helene.
Two crews comprised of 12 LES employees are headed to Albany, Georgia, as Hurricane Helene is expected to make landfall Sept. 26. In preparation, utilities in the storm’s path are prestaging restoration workers and equipment and coordinating response efforts with their state and local officials.
“We learned firsthand all the difference mutual aid support can make when we dealt with the aftermath of the July 31 storm in Lincoln, our first call for mutual aid support in nine years,” said Paul Crist, LES vice president of Energy Delivery. “Power restoration is demanding and stretches resources thin, and LES is proud to return the support to another community in need.”
LES crews will deploy Sept. 25 at 12 p.m. and are expected to arrive in Georgia the following evening. Six employees from Grand Island will travel with LES to assist in restoration efforts.
The American Public Power Association is helping to coordinate assistance efforts in the region. More than 2,000 community-owned electric utilities across the country make up the APPA. As a member of the APPA’s mutual aid network, LES is reimbursed for all costs of deploying resources to assist other utilities.
The LES team consistently answers the call — near or far — when fellow utilities face challenges requiring mutual aid assistance. LES most recently supported restoration efforts in Omaha in the wake of the July 31 storm, which caused the largest power outage in Omaha’s history.
“Unfortunately, it’s not a question of “if” the next storm will happen but “when,’” added Crist. “And when it does, we hope other utilities know they can call LES to lend a hand.”
Follow LES on social media for updates on mutual aid efforts.