10/5/2005
A five-man crew of Jackson Purchase Energy line workers will leave Monday to help restore power to those affected by the devastation of Hurricane Rita
A five-man crew of Jackson Purchase Energy line workers will leave Monday to help restore power to those affected by the devastation of Hurricane Rita. This group will replace a crew that was sent to Jefferson Davis Electric Cooperative in Jennings, Louisiana on Sep. 26.
The crew returning from Louisiana includes line workers Joseph Cornwell, David Denfip, Shane Humphry, Matt Lewis and Eric Todd.
The replacement crew will include line workers Jimmy Johnson, Joseph Reeves, Joe Rupke, Greg Vied and David Wilcox.
The returning crew will be back at JPEC on Wednesday, Oct. 12, after working 16 to 18 hour days, 7 days a week. Crews begin the day at 5 a.m. with briefings and then work until 9 p.m. Electric cooperatives are linked by a network of mutual assistance pacts allowing for the speedy transfer of men and material in the event of a natural disaster. JPEC is on a "willing to assist" list at the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives. The KAEC has coordinated the relief effort with the Louisiana Statewide Association.
After arriving, JPEC crews should acclimate quickly because the cooperative network makes up nearly half of the nation's distribution infrastructure and is all built to federal standards. That continuity of design means that JPEC crews are already familiar with how the Louisiana system is engineered and can begin work immediately.
Lineworkers are being housed in a temporary "tent city" with full support facilities. Hurricane Rita eliminated most of the facilities that normally would have been available to house and feed the hundreds of additional line workers.
The replacement crew has been in contact with JPEC's lineworkers, who are already on the scene.
From Louisiana, Cornwell said, "When you get here be prepared. There isn't anything down here that doesn't bite or sting."
The new crew is expected to work the same 16 to 18 hour days. The crew is scheduled to return after a week or 10 days.
Rich Sherrill, vice president of engineering and operations said, "We have been on hurricane watch for more than a month now.
"We sent five line workers to Taylorsville, MS after Hurricane Katrina and this is the second crew we are sending to Louisiana. We know the help will be appreciated and while we hope to never need the assistance in return, we know that if we do, it will be there."
The crewmembers going to Louisiana to replace JPEC's first wave of support all volunteered for the duty as did the first crew.
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.
