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Lewis County REC Sending Linemen to Hurricane Zone

As Hurricane Florence makes it way toward the Atlantic coast, Missouri’s electric cooperatives are mobilizing to answer the call for help. At the request of Santee Electric Cooperative in Kingstree, S.C., up to 150 Missouri cooperative line workers will be traveling to South Carolina to assist in the cleanup after the storm has passed. Missouri will be sending both construction and service crews to help with the power restoration efforts.  Lewis County REC will be joining in the efforts by sending 3 trucks and 4 linemen.

The Missouri crews will gather on Friday morning to travel east so they’re closer to the area once the storm passes Saturday evening.

Missouri’s electric cooperatives have a long history of lending a helping hand to its cooperative peers in trying times. Missouri crews first helped with hurricane relief efforts in 2004 when the Gulf Coast was hit by Hurricane Ivan and have been doing so since. The most recent deployment was in 2017 when crews traveled to Florida and Georgia following Hurricane Irma.

The favor has been returned, as Missouri co-ops received assistance restoring power following ice storms in 2007 and 2009.

Missouri’s restoration efforts are being spearheaded by the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives. The Jefferson City-based association represents all 47 of Missouri’s electric cooperatives.