NASHVILLE – More than 40 electric cooperative lineworkers from Tennessee are heading to Louisiana to restore power to those affected by Hurricane Isaac. Crews departed early Thursday morning.
“Seven electric cooperatives in Tennessee are sending personnel and equipment to Louisiana to assist electric cooperatives impacted by the storm,” said David Callis, executive vice president and general manager of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. “Louisiana has seen high wind, heavy rain and widespread power outages.”
Electric cooperative organizations across the southeast began developing response plans on Monday and details have been adjusted as the exact path of the storm and the extent of the damage became more certain. This cooperation is enabled through mutual aid agreements between electric cooperatives.
Crews will be assisting Dixie Electric Membership Corporation in Greenwell Springs, La., approximately 10 miles east of Baton Rouge.
Assisting in the recovery will be:
- four lineworkers from Chickasaw Electric Cooperative, Somerville
- nine from Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation, Clarksville
- seven from Fayetteville Public Utilities, Fayetteville
- six from Fort Loudoun Electric Cooperative, Madisonville
- eight from Plateau Electric Cooperative, Oneida
- six from Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative, South Pittsburg
- six from Southwest Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation, Brownsville
“One day we will be in need,” says Callis, “and when that tornado or ice storm arrives, we know that this assistance will be repaid. Cooperation is one of the founding principles of electric cooperatives.”
