8/31/2005
JPEC sends workers to Mississippi for Katrina Cleanup.
Jackson Purchase Energy will send five line workers to Mississippi, Thursday, to help restore power to those affected by the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
The Mississippi Association of Electric Cooperatives has requested assistance from other electric cooperatives throughout the southeast. JPEC crews will be working at Southern Pine Electric Power Association in Taylorsville, MS, about 50 miles southeast of Jackson, MS.
Assistance from JPEC will include line workers Louis Carman, Chad Culp, Jim Evrard, Darryl Johnson and John Sutton
The line workers will arrive late Thursday evening and begin with restoration efforts first thing Friday morning. They are expected to work 16 to 18 hour days, 7 days a week for two weeks or more. After two weeks, JPEC will evaluate progress and determine if a "fresh" crew should be sent to replace this one.
Southern Pine Electric Power Association serves more than 65,000 customers nearly all of who were without power after the storm. Efforts have already begun and some power has already been restored.
Rich Sherrill, vice president of engineering and operations said, "We knew we would be sending folks to help out just as soon as the storm passed through our area. We wanted to be sure that we had a full compliment of crews here at home in case we had major troubles from the storm. Plus, we needed to give the people down south time to asses their damage and determine how much help they needed."
JPEC is on a "willing to assist" list at the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives. The KAEC has coordinated the relief effort with the Mississippi Statewide Association.
Sutton said, "It will be hard work and I will miss my family here at home, but I know those folks down there have had it rough and whatever we can do to help, I'm ready to do. Just yesterday I was out in the rain here at home and the whole time I was thinking that this is nothing compared to what those people have been going through."
The crewmembers going to Mississippi all volunteered for the duty.
The host utility pays all expenses for assistance and therefore, JPEC will not incur any costs other than lacking five line workers here at home.
Johnson said, "We've had some pretty bad ice storms here in the past and have had to call in help. I know what a relief it is to see fresh crews pull up."
The line crews will operate just like they do here with one man serving as the liaison with the local utility. He will receive work assignments and then distribute those assignments to the crews. This set up ensures that JPEC's help is really a help and not a hindrance. By having one point of contact it means that JPEC's crews do not have to be supervised by the local utility.
G. Kelly Nuckols, JPEC president and ceo said, "It's important to remember that while the crews that are going to Mississippi will be working hard, the remaining line workers here at home will have to pick up the extra slack.
An event as catastrophic as this impacts so many people, just like ripples in a pond."
Jackson Purchase Energy line workers who will be traveling to Mississippi will be available for media interviews this afternoon between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m while they load trucks and prepare to leave. If you wish to interview the line workers, please contact J. Patrick Kerr at the above phone number or by cell phone at 559.6726 to let him know you are coming. Interviews will be conducted near the Line Truck Bays directly behind JPEC's corporate office at 2900 Irvin Cobb Drive. You can enter the Truck Bay area from Bethel Street just past the entrance to JPEC's main parking lot. This is a gated entrance and you will need to press the intercom to gain access.
Phone interviews are also possible. Please contact J. Patrick Kerr for information.
