Crews from 13 Kentucky electric cooperatives are headed to Virginia on Friday to help with power restoration after storms swept through the area. A total of 78 crews have been deployed to aide Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, Shenandoah Valley EC and Northern Neck EC with relief efforts.
Winter Storm Riley swept through northern Virginia with damaging winds, heavy, wet snow, and destructive coastal flooding leaving more than 39,000 Rappahannock EC members without power. High winds continue, bringing down large trees resulting in power outages.
“As families struggle without power, we’re glad to be able to be on the ground assisting in any way we can,” said Clarence Greene, Safety and Loss Prevention Director for the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives. “Our focus is to assist with power restoration with safety as our top priority.”
Friday’s deployment comes five months after the largest out-of-state mutual aid deployment in Kentucky electric cooperative history, in response to Tropical Storm Irma. KAEC coordinated the deployment of 150 linemen from 19 Kentucky co-ops to assist in Georgia and Florida.
The top priority of each local Kentucky co-op is service to its own member-owners. Before committing resources to mutual aid requests, each co-op ensures it has ample crews available for all local needs, including routine maintenance and emergencies.
