12 Iowa electric co-ops send crews and equipment to South Carolina following Hurricane Helene

Hurricane Helene knocked out power to an estimated 1.25 million co-op members located in the Southeast last week. A Category 4 storm, Helene has proven to be one of the most destructive hurricanes for electric cooperatives. The Carolinas were hit particularly hard, and IAEC Director of Safefy Scott Meinecke checked in with his South Carolina statewide contact to offer assistance from Iowa's electric cooperatives.

"On Sunday morning, Nick Adams, director of technical training, compliance, & safety of the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, reached out to me requesting 4 or 5 crews to assist at Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative," recalls Meinecke. In Southern storm terms, a crew is 4 to 5 men, one digger with pole trailer and one bucket truck.

6 electric cooperatives responded to the first call for mutual aid, providing 5 crews (20 men, 5 bucket trucks, 5 digger trucks, 5 pole trailers) for Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative:

• Chariton Valley Electric Cooperative
• Eastern Iowa Light & Power Cooperative (pictured)
• Farmers Electric Cooperative (Greenfield)
• Linn County Rural Electric Cooperative
• Maquoketa valley Electric Cooperative
• T.I.P. Rural Electric Cooperative

On Monday, the South Carolina statewide reached out to IAEC requesting 4 more crews to assist at Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative in the largest storm restoration effort the co-op has ever undertaken. 4 more Iowa electric cooperatives sent a total a of 16 men, 4 bucket trucks, 4 diggers and 4 pole trailers:

• Clarke Electric Cooperative
• Consumers Energy
• Midland Power Cooperative
• Western Iowa Power Cooperative (WIPCO)

On Tuesday, South Carolina asked for another crew for Little River Electric Cooperative. "We've been hit harder than we could ever imagine," said Chad Stone, interim CEO at Little River Electric Cooperative. The Abbeville, South Carolina-based co-op lost 99% of power to its 15,000 meters and still had about 10,000 down on Wednesday. "At this time, we're looking at a few more weeks, but we're working as hard as we can to get everybody in as soon as possible."

Two Iowa cooperatives provided 4 men, 1 bucket truck and 1 pole trailer:

• Nishnabotna Valley Rural Electric Cooperative
• Midland Power Cooperative

Through these 3 mutual aid requests, IAEC coordinated 10 crews consisting of 40 men, 10 buckets and 10 diggers. Additionally, MiEnergy Cooperative has sent a crew of 4 linemen and a bucket truck to Broad River Electric Cooperative in South Carolina through the Minnesota Rural Electric Association.

We would also like to thank Ethan Hohenadel, IAEC director of policy & advocacy, for assisting in securing a proclamation from the Governor's office to ensure smooth transport to South Carolina.

Follow IAEC on Facebook for updates on these mutual aid efforts and please keep these linemen in your thoughts and prayers as they work in difficult conditions to restore power to people in need.

For More Information:

Erin Campbell
Director of Communications

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