As the state of Louisiana braces for the impact of another hurricane, public utilities around the country are preparing to send both staff and equipment to help restore electricity to affected areas.
Hurricane Delta currently has 100 mph winds, but it's expected to strengthen into a major hurricane (at least 110 mph winds) – and then possibly weaken again — before hitting land.
With the storm expected to wreak havoc on area electrical systems, the Harrisonville Electric Department will send both staff and equipment to Alexandria, LA, as part of a mutual aid request through the Missouri Public Utility Alliance.
Staff will ride out the storm with local utility crews and first responders and then quickly get to work, restoring power to those hit hardest by the powerful storm.
According to a press release from the Missouri Public Utility Alliance, "The combined response of 14 lineworkers involves crews from the Missouri cities of Harrisonville, Nixa, Palmyra and Poplar Bluff. The workers will stage in Alexandria, Louisiana, equipped with four bucket trucks, one digger/derrick truck, and other linework vehicles and machines , ready to restore power to Alexandria’s municipal utility after the storm passes."
Click here to read a press release about the mutual aid response from the MPUA.
"The responding crews are from “public power” electric utilities, not-for-profit community-owned electric utilities that serve their individual cities, but also have agreements in place allowing staff to assist neighboring communities and states during widespread outages in other communities. Municipal utility workers in other states are also on the road to Louisiana locations to assist in hurricane recovery efforts," the release said.
The City of Harrisonville is proud of the sacrifice our staff will be making, as they brave dangerous conditions to meet a vital need for those in the storm’s path. Throughout our history, Harrisonville has always been a community ready and willing to lend a hand when a community is facing hardship. This opportunity to partner with the City of Alexandria is no different.
Hurricane Delta is expected to make landfall early Friday morning near the Louisiana, Texas border. The storm is then forecast to push up through the eastern edge of Texas, both west and central Louisiana, and eventually into eastern Arkansas, Mississippi and eastern Tennessee and northwestern Alabama.