Two Lincoln Electric System crews that responded to Hurricane Idalia in Florida on September 1 returned to Nebraska on Sunday. Supervisor Traid Rader tells KLIN News during their two week mission they worked with a Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative in Florida to help restore power to nearly 26,000 customers.
“Seen a lot of uprooted trees that basically fell into the power lines and it tears them all down,” Rader says. “We spent a good 2-3 days repairing all of that stuff.” He says there was no shortage of work for the ten LES workers.
He says there were ten LES employees on two different crews and the worked very long days clearing damaged equipment, setting poles and replacing cable to re-energize homes and businesses. “We got up every morning at 5:00 a.m. and then we put in a 16 hour day. Typical day would be to get up and we would grab a little breakfast and the guy’s would refuel trucks and get materials and we would head out.”
He says despite the long days they did not have an accidents and none of the crew members were injured. Rader says it’s a good feeling knowing they can use their skills to help people in other states that are in need.
“You never know when Lincoln may have a major disaster and may need that help.”
(Photo: Lincoln Electric System )