WEC sends crew, equipment to aid in Ida recovery

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Posted by: Staff
Date: Sep 03 2021 1:29 PM

HARTFORD, Alabama — Five Wiregrass Electric Cooperative linemen departed headquarters Friday morning to help a Louisiana cooperative recover from Hurricane Ida’s destruction.

The crew will be assisting Washington-St. Tammany Electric Cooperative in eastern Louisiana. The Louisiana cooperative lost power to 98.4% of its approximately 52,000 meters following the storm, which made landfall Sunday as a strong Category 4 hurricane. As of Friday morning, Washington-St. Tammany still had more than 26,000 outages. “We are no strangers to the devastation such a powerful storm can create and know how much manpower and equipment is needed to restore essential services to everyone,” WEC CEO Les Moreland said.

“We relied on the help of many cooperatives following Hurricane Michael in 2018, and it is our privilege to return the favor. Indeed it is part of the cooperative spirit that we are founded upon to assist others in their time of need.” In addition to the five-man crew, WEC sent a variety of specialty trucks and equipment needed in major power restoration efforts. This includes a digger truck, essential for drilling holes for new pole placements.

“Our members have blessed us with many resources and sound leadership throughout the years, and we are happy to put these resources to use in helping others rebuild,” said Brad Kimbro, WEC chief operating officer. “This crew represents why WEC is big enough to serve and local enough to care.”

Kimbro said WEC will assist Washington-St. Tammany as long as needed. He added WEC still maintains enough manpower and equipment locally to respond to outages should members experience them.

To track the restoration efforts in Louisiana, visit https://www.wste.coop/report-outages/

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