Grady EMC crew dispatched to hard hit Kentucky
GRADY EMC LINEMEN GOING TO HELP IN KENTUCKY. The local men are leaving this week. Pictured, l-r, Todd Gibbs, Mike Savitz, Tony Hurst, Justin Harrison, Neal Hester, Geoffrey Lawrence, Scott Taliaferro and Willie Lurry.
“Being an electric co-op means calling upon your neighbors during emergencies,” says Donnie Prince with Grady EMC. “We have an unwritten agreement that says if we’re in trouble, they help us. In return, we help them.”
Nearly 100 workers from 13 electric membership corporations (EMCs) in Georgia began leaving this week. Additional crews are on standby, should they be needed.
EMC crews from Georgia will be working to restore power to approximately 200,000 co-op customers following reports of massive power outages due to thick layers of snow and ice causing downed trees and power lines. Georgia Transmission has sent two transmission line repair crews to Kentucky and is likely to provide additional support as requests are received. Due to the extent of damage to distribution and transmission lines, some customers could be without power for several days.
The EMCs in Georgia have vast experience in restoring power following major weather events. In addition to recent efforts in Georgia, EMC crews have worked alongside electric co-ops in South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida and Texas to repair damage to the distribution system in the aftermath of winter storms, hurricanes and tornadoes.
Other Georgia EMCs sending crews to Kentucky are: Carroll EMC in Carrollton; Central Georgia EMC in Jackson; Cobb EMC in Marietta; Coweta-Fayette EMC in Newnan; Flint Energies in Reynolds; Diverse Power in LaGrange; Georgia Transmission Corp. in Tucker; Habersham EMC in Clarkesville; Hart EMC in Hartwell; Snapping Shoals EMC in Covington; Southern Rivers in Barnesville; Walton EMC in Monroe; and Washington EMC in Sandersville.
