 received a thank you letter on behalf of Kissimmee Utility Authority. The letter thanked line workers Ja){kind=link}
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New Ulm Public Utility line employees Joe Weber, Brandon Devorak and James Henderson stand by the Utility Truck earlier than departing on mutual aid call to Florida to help with restoring energy within the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.
FLORIDA — Last week New Ulm Public Utilities (NUPU) acquired a thanks letter on behalf of Kissimmee Utility Authority.
The letter thanked line employees James Henderson, Brandon Devorak and Joe Weber of NUPU who assisted with mutual aid assist following the devastation of Hurricane Ian.
The letter from KUA learn:
“We are grateful for our public power community who comes together to help one another in times of need. We cannot thank you enough for your quick response to our request. Please know that KUA and most importantly, our citizens, are most appreciative of all your support.”
In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, a number of Florida communities have been with out energy. On Sept. 26, Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association (MMUA) acquired a call from Kissimmee Utility to assist restore energy.
MMUA put a call out for assist and 14 Minnesota utilities responded, together with New Ulm. Henderson, Devorak and Weber volunteered to be a part of the mutual aid call.
The subsequent day, they met with different Minnesota utilities in Rochester earlier than touring to Bartow, Florida to assist aid efforts.
Line employees spent their time rebuilding the road, changing gear and restoring energy to the group.
Mutual aid calls for utility work usually are not uncommon. Henderson stated there may be often a minimum of one mutual aid request a yr. New Ulm line employees have responded to calls in Redwood Falls, Owatonna and Lake Crystal. These calls often occur within the spring following excessive storms. Devorak stated they’ve helped in Iowa and South Dakota earlier than following ice storms.
Traveling to Florida was a singular expertise. It is just not day by day that Minnesota linemen get to assist following a hurricane. Much of the work was repairing energy traces that went down within the storm. This might embody fixing or repairing energy poles.
Most of the facility traces in Florida are above floor, Henderson stated. Unlike in Minnesota, energy traces can’t simply be buried underground due to the sandy soil and groundwater.
Devorak commented that, in contrast to Minnesota utility poles, Florida poles have been manufactured from concrete however for essentially the most half it was not too totally different from Minnesota.
Henderson’s stated one good thing about working in Florida was not digging to substitute a pole. They merely pulled the previous pole out of the bottom and stick within the new one.
Though changing a pole was faster, linemen had to watch out of different hazards. As lots of the areas had been with out energy for days, some residents and companies had backup turbines operating. They had to watch out round down wires as a result of some may very well be reside. Henderson stated they have been cautious to put on protecting gear.
Another distinctive characteristic of working in Florida was the wildlife. Henderson stated you had to watch your step in Florida. The New Ulm linemen by no means encountered any reptiles, however they heard from different mutual aid employees talked about giant snakes and alligators hanging round restore zones.
The three males labored 16-hour days to assist restore energy together with different utility employees from throughout the nation. All three New Ulm linemen praised the professionalism of everybody concerned within the mutual aid call. The whole course of was extraordinarily environment friendly.
Henderson stated organizing and getting crews to Florida went very nicely. Once on location, they have been in a position to begin working virtually instantly.
Many of the residents had been with out energy for days and have been grateful to the lineworkers who introduced it again on-line. Homeowners would deliver pizzas and breakfast sandwiches as they labored.
The three stated it was an incredible expertise and the locals have been grateful for their efforts. All three linemen stated they’d completely assist once more if the call got here.
Henderson needed to reward the work of Devorak and Weber. He stated they have been unbelievable and protected employees.
Henderson, Devorak and Weber have been additionally recommended by New Ulm Utility Director Kris Manderfeld throughout Tuesday’s Public Utilities Commission assembly for their willingness to reply to the emergency.
“This is the spirit of a municipal utility worker,” Manderfeld stated “whether it be electric, water, gas, or wastewater, they stand to help fellow employees and citizens in our community and others. I am very proud of all the municipal employees of New Ulm Public Utilities.”