Lincoln Electric System has sent crew members and vehicles to help utilities in Louisiana with power restoration efforts due to Hurricane Ida. More than a million customers were without power across the state.
Three crews comprised of 13 LES employees were initially sent to Lafayette, Louisiana, but ended up getting rerouted to Houma, which was in the direct path of the category 4 storm. “When people are out of power it’s a real critical thing to our lives, says Fredrick Rumery, project manager for the energy delivery division. “When we can help and we have that ability we’re going to take advantage of it every time so that if the unfortunate situation ever arose that we need to be the recipient, we know that we’re going to have good partners there to help us out as well.”
He says crews will be in Louisiana for at least a week. If more help is needed beyond that they will roate crews and send a second team down. LES crews have consistently contributed to restoration efforts in the Gulf Coast region, including in the wake of Hurricane Michael in 2018.