As Hurricane Helene tore its way across Florida’s Gulf Coast on Thursday, Sept. 26, the inland areas of Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas braced for a relentless onslaught of rain and wind.
Here at REC, employees also prepared: They readied themselves to respond to affected communities and support sister electric cooperatives impacted by the storm.
Over a three-week period, more than 30 REC linemen and mechanics deployed to assist electric co-ops in Georgia and North Carolina. They rebuilt decimated infrastructure and helped restore power to hundreds of thousands of families and businesses.
Dillon Sheads, Lead Lineman, was among the REC employees supporting Rutherford Electric Membership Corporation in Morgantown, N.C. They repaired damaged equipment and replaced broken poles snapped by powerful winds. They later transitioned to the mountains where they witnessed some of the horrific flooding.
“We saw the landslides. We saw houses completely gone,” Sheads said. “It was surreal. But it was nice to know I could make a difference. Some of these people lost everything. Some of them still had friends and family they could not get ahold of.”
Living in Southwest Florida for six years, Chris Winkler, Lead Lineman, has worked the aftermath of several hurricanes and tornadoes. Despite that experience, he wasn’t prepared for the extent of damage he came across in Clarkesville and Millen, Ga.
“What we saw was pretty devastating,” Winkler shared. “It’s something you never get used to seeing, but once you get there you know what your job is and that doesn’t change just because you’re at a different co-op.”
In Georgia, the REC crews replaced burned-out and downed wires and replaced poles, as well as transformers.
Not only are REC’s yellow trucks memorable, but so is the kindness and care the crews exude when connecting with residents.
That’s what stood out to Kimberly and Justin Bettross, Jefferson EMC members in Georgia, who shared their gratitude for the REC crews on Facebook.
“Beyond blessed, grateful and thankful for all the hard-working linemen who are out working long hours away from their loved ones and family,” Kimberly posted. “Thank y’all for all y’all’s incredibly hard work!”
Travis Sheulen, Line Foreman, and his crew supported Jefferson’s communities, where wire and broken poles were everywhere.
“I’ve never seen that much wire and that many broken poles down,” he said.
While providing assistance comes as second nature in the cooperative world, it’s an important pillar of the cooperative foundation.
“It’s part of our core values, where you help your sister co-ops,” Winkler shared. “You may work for a different co-op, but we’re all one big family spread out across the country and we all help one another whenever we can.”
He continued: “That REC sent so many crews after Hurricane Helene says a lot about our commitment to not only our own members, but also our willingness to help others when they need us.”
Employees Rally to Support Storm Victims in Virginia
Likewise, concern for community is not bound to just REC’s members and the counties the cooperative powers every day.
While dozens of REC crews were providing support in North Carolina and Georgia, at home in Virginia, employees from across REC rallied together, turning goodwill into tangible support for those affected by the storm’s wrath.
For more than a week, employees gathered and donated hundreds of much-needed items, to assist the communities that were heavily impacted.
"This effort truly highlights our cooperative spirit of concern for the community, reminding us that when we come together, we can overcome even the greatest challenges," said Casey Hollins, Managing Director - Communications ＆ Public Relations. "Together, we are helping communities recover and rebuild."
Early on Friday, Oct. 11, Hollins and Lindsey Edwards, Public Relations Specialist, headed down to Bristol, Va.
They hit the road with a van packed to the brim with supplies, food, toiletries and a sprinkle of compassion, bound for the resilient communities of Southwest Virginia, still reeling from Hurricane Helene.
“It was more than just a delivery of donations,” Hollins said. “It was a journey of hope, reminding us that in tough times, REC’s community spirit drives us forward.”
