Dozens of Omaha Public Power District linemen and tree crews are on their way to hurricane ravaged Florida to help electric utilities in the state restore power to millions of customers.
OPPD officials say four 3-person crews, two mechanics, a supervisor and 32 contracted tree trimmers will assist in clean-up and restoration efforts. Half of the tree crews left Monday, with the rest of the tree crews heading out on Tuesday. OPPD linemen left early Tuesday morning from locations across the service area, taking fourteen vehicles with them including pick-ups, bucket trucks and digger derricks.
Once in Florida, the crews will work with Tampa Electric, but could assist in numerous service areas and will stay as long as needed.
Vice President of Energy Delivery and Chief Compliance Officer for OPPD, Mo Doghman, says their crews are more than willing to help those affected by Hurricane Irma. “The damage caused by this hurricane is catastrophic. The impacted utilities need all the help they can get right now. We are glad to lend our people and their talents to assist with this massive recovery effort.”
Usually OPPD crews offer mutual aid to areas within 500 miles of their service territory, but when catastrophic events such as Irma hit, they pull out all the stops to help. OPPD has sent crews across the country to assist after natural disasters before, such as Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and Katrina in 2005.