Hendricks Power Crews Assist with Hurricane Helene Power Restoration

Hendricks Power line crew members provide mutual aid assistance during and after Hurricane Helene

On September 26, four Hendricks Power line crew members traveled south to Marietta, Georgia, to assist Cobb EMC in restoring power after a severe storm caused widespread outages. These crew members joined forces with 36 other lineworkers from Indiana cooperatives. Power was restored to affected communities on September 29.

Following their efforts in Marietta, the team moved to Wrens, Georgia, to assist Jefferson Energy Cooperative. 
The storm's aftermath was particularly devastating, as Jefferson Energy Cooperative reported 100% of its members without power. To support the recovery, more than 250 lineworkers from across the country arrived, all working in challenging conditions to restore electricity to the region.

To ensure lineworkers could recover and recharge for the next day's work, a base camp was established, allowing workers to rest after 15-16 hour shifts. Hendricks Power Cooperative provided additional support by sending a second team of four linemen on October 7 to relieve the initial crew. The second group worked diligently until October 18, playing a crucial role in the recovery effort.

Kurtis Doll, Manager of Operations at Hendricks Power Cooperative, commented on the crews' impact: “Jefferson is similar in size to Hendricks Power. With the amount of vegetation and the storm's aftermath, the restoration process was slow, with full restoration taking nearly four weeks for some residents. Both crews we sent stood out among the others for their productivity, dedication to safety and efficiency, teamwork, and leadership.”

The contributions of Hendricks Power's linemen and countless other dedicated professionals were essential in overcoming the storm's aftermath. Their hard work, resilience, and commitment to helping others embody the spirit of cooperative support.

Find more pictures and stay up-to-date with Hendricks Power on our Facebook page.