One of the things that I love most about electric cooperatives is our willingness to step up and assist each other in challenging times. It’s extraordinary to see people come together to render aid and overcome an incredible challenge, and it’s even more special when those people are on your team.
As many know, Hurricane Debby made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region Monday morning as a Category 1 hurricane before spreading into Georgia as a tropical storm and then into South Carolina for the first time on Tuesday. The storm caused more than 250,000 power outages for co-op members in those three states.
It’s inspiring how our employees consistently step up without hesitation to assist neighboring cooperative members in the wake of natural disasters, embodying the spirit of solidarity and mutual aid.
On Sunday evening, CHELCO sent a crew of seven linemen and our right-of-way coordinator, along with five crewmembers from Southland Utility Services, east.
As meteorologists and emergency services tracked Hurricane Debby’s progress, our crews prepared to confront its aftermath head-on.
Their first stop was Talquin Electric Cooperative (TEC). Located in Quincy, FL, TEC lost power to 21,500 meters on Monday—over a third of its system. By Tuesday night, the co-op had fully restored power.
While the right-of-way crews returned following their visit to TEC, our CHELCO service crew forged farther east to Tri-County Electric Cooperative (TCEC) in Madison, Florida. TCEC lost power to 19,421 of its 20,100 meters immediately after Debby struck its territory Monday. By Thursday, that number had dropped to about 1,900.
For six long days, under challenging conditions like flooded roads and risks posed by rising rivers, our crew set aside the comfort of their homes, the company of their families, and their familiar daily routines to help those in need. I hope you are as proud and as thankful for their work as we are here at CHELCO.
Another aspect of mutual aid work I haven’t discussed as much is the post-hurricane coordination done by the cooperatives receiving aid. Both Talquin and Tri-County met our crews with kindness and generosity. Despite their own hardships, both co-ops went above and beyond to ensure our crews had everything they needed. They did their utmost to make our crew’s stay as comfortable as possible, a testament to the cooperative principle, Cooperation Among Cooperatives.
As I reflect on this most recent storm work, I want to assure you that CHELCO is prepared to handle the future challenges that Mother Nature may throw our way. We have comprehensive emergency response plans and safety protocols to ensure that, should our service territory ever be on the receiving end of such a storm, we are equipped to respond swiftly and effectively.
In the meantime, please visit the Storm Center on our website to learn how you and your family can plan ahead to protect your home before, during and after the storm. Stay safe out there!
