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Story Contact: Cindy King
SAWNEE EMC CREW MAKES WAY TO MISSISSIPPI
(Cumming, September 7, 2005)— A seven (7) man Sawnee EMC crew left for Mississippi on Thursday, September 1, to help restore power to victims of Hurricane Katrina. Chet Blackstock, Construction Superintendent Sawnee EMC stated, “The crews are working tirelessly and making some progress. The area was completely devastated. As of Tuesday, September 6, Dixie Electric had 35% of their meters back on. The damage is extensive and many lines have to be built from scratch”
The crew will assist Dixie Electric Power Administration in Laurel Mississippi. Dixie Electric is a 33,000 member co-op and 100% of their meters were wiped out. Over 800 poles were on the ground which meant hundreds of miles of line were completely gone.
Since electric cooperatives follow the same power line construction standard, Sawnee EMC crews will be able to work with Dixie Electric crews or independently. The Sawnee crew has over 123 combined years of experience. Due to the extent of the damage, a replacement crew will relieve the first crew next week.
Additional hazards face electric crews after natural disasters. Flooding and fallen trees can make access to repairs difficult. The waters can also displace poisonous snakes and make the mosquito population also unbearable.
Sawnee EMC is a consumer-owned cooperative providing electricity and related services to over 128,000 members in Forsyth, Cherokee, Dawson, Hall, Fulton, Gwinnett, and Lumpkin counties. Collectively, Georgia’s 42 customer-owned EMCs provide electricity and related services to 3.7 million people, nearly half of Georgia’s population, across 73% of the state’s land area. Georgia’s electric membership cooperatives now serve more customers than any other state network of EMCs in the nation.
Pictured from L to R are:
Avery Tinsley, Keith Chester, Shane Tompkins, James Goss, Ernest Corn, Andy Whitt, Joey Day
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