12 Sep Duck River Electric sends assistance to North Carolina to aid power restoration following Hurricane Florence
HURRICANE FLORENCE BEARS DOWN ON THE CAROLINA COAST
Duck River Electric Membership Corporation (DREMC) is sending eight linemen, one operations supervisor and seven trucks to Lumbee River Electric Membership Corporation (Lumbee River EMC) located in Red Springs, North Carolina, to assist with Hurricane Florence recovery efforts.
The massive hurricane is expected to leave widespread damage across much of the Atlantic seaboard, and DREMC crews will be in place to assist as soon as it is safe to work.
“This is a powerful storm, and the people of North Carolina have some tough days ahead,” says Michael Watson, DREMC president and CEO. “We are proud of our linemen for volunteering to assist. They will be working long days in difficult conditions, but they were quick to respond to the call for help. We ask that the public keep them and their families in your thoughts and prayers while they are away.”
Crews plan to leave early Saturday morning and are expected to arrive in Red Springs on Saturday, ready to assist with restoration efforts early Sunday morning. It is unclear how long they will be in North Carolina. Lumbee River EMC is in the southeastern part of the state between Charlotte and Wilmington. They serve nearly 53,000 members in four counties and maintain over 5,600 miles of line.
“It is an honor to be able to help,” says Tommy Campbell, DREMC operating supervisor from the Decherd office. “When we do storm work, the conditions are always tough, but it makes you feel good to know that you are helping people when they need it the most.”
“As an electric cooperative, one of our core values is assisting other cooperatives in need,” adds Watson. “We have sent crews to assist following hurricanes, ice storms, tornadoes and other severe weather conditions. The mutual-aid agreement among electric cooperatives gives us the ability to help others and to call on help when we need it here.”
Crews from DREMC are joining some 120 other lineworkers from 14 electric co-ops across Tennessee who will be assisting with hurricane recovery efforts. The Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association in Nashville is coordinating requests for mutual aid and makes travel and lodging arrangements for crews who respond.
“Our crews have a reputation for responding quickly, working safely and showing compassion to those who have been impacted by storms like this one,” says David Callis, executive vice president and general manager of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. “We appreciate our employees’ desire to serve and wish them well in the days to come.”