LOUISVILLE, Ky — As of noon Saturday, October 8, 111 linemen from 12 Kentucky electric cooperatives are deployed to South Carolina to assist in recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Matthew.

Coordinated by the Safety and Loss Prevention Team of the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives, the mutual aid effort is in response to requests from affected electric cooperatives. In advance of potentially damaging weather events, out-of-state crews are requested to travel to the area, then workers are on call depending on the severity of the destruction and path of the storm.

KAEC has additional offers of assistance from six more Kentucky co-ops with 35 additional linemen ready to go.

Kentucky co-op crews now assigned to Berkeley Electric Cooperative in South Carolina:  South Kentucky, Cumberland Valley, Jackson Energy, Licking Valley, Clark, Warren & Farmers.

Five co-ops who were initially assigned to an electric cooperative in Florida, have been reassigned to other electric cooperative service areas in South Carolina.
Kentucky crews assigned to Aiken Electric Cooperative:  Nolin & Blue Grass
Kentucky crews assigned to Palmetto Electric Cooperative:  Owen, Shelby & Salt River

“May the Kentucky electric cooperatives employees who leave their families to restore power in areas damaged by Hurricane Matthew return safely home after helping cooperative families in need,” said Clarence Greene, KAEC Director of Safety and Loss Prevention.

KAEC is preparing for the likelihood that North Carolina co-ops may also be asking for assistance.  Crews from Kenergy, West Kentucky, Jackson Purchase, Meade, Fleming-Mason & Big Sandy electric cooperatives have all offered to assist.

All four of the Kentucky electric cooperatives who had planned to compete in the KC International Rodeo have instead sent linemen from their rodeo teams to assist with this storm restoration (Nolin, Owen, Clark & Blue Grass).

“KAEC commends the sacrifice and commitment of linemen crews and staffs from our member cooperatives across the commonwealth who are demonstrating the co-op spirit to help our co-op brethren affected by Hurricane Matthew,” said Chris Perry, president and CEO of the statewide association.