Lineworkers describe the massive mutual aid effort

Three weeks after Hurricane Helene’s devastation triggered the largest mutual aid response in Kentucky electric cooperative history, more than 100 Kentucky lineworkers continue to restore power to sister co-ops in Georgia and North Carolina, with the deployment for some crews potentially lasting another week.

Crews who have returned home to Kentucky are describing what they experienced among Helene’s flooding, landslides and tragedy.
“This is the worst storm I’ve ever worked,” said Owen Electric Service Technician Bobby VonBokern, who has worked for the co-op since 2007 and has been assisting in Georgia. “At least every other span of wire is down. We’re basically building Satilla REMC’s whole grid from the ground up since its start in 1937. The damage was catastrophic.”

At the height of the mutual aid response, more than 250 personnel from 19 Kentucky co-ops were working in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. In addition, more than 100 Kentucky co-op contractors also responded to the calls for help.

“It is very heart-wrenching to see firsthand how the forces of nature can bring such disruption and devastation to these communities and the people that live here,” said Brandon Keyton, a four-year Jackson Energy Lineman. “It is very humbling to be able to bring a little normality back to those affected by these storms. It weighs heavy on your heart but is worth the sacrifice away from our families back home.”

Helene knocked out electric service to an estimated 1.25 million co-op members in the southeastern U.S, including 100,000 co-op consumer-members in Kentucky. Many of the crews who helped in other states responded first to mutual aid requests within Kentucky, such as Kenergy Corp. which assisted Clark Energy in Winchester.

“We were taken good care of by the cooperative. Clark’s members were very thankful and showed much gratitude for us being there,” recalled Chris Bennett, a Kenergy Construction Crew Foreman who was part of a crew who also assisted Laurens Electric Cooperative in South Carolina.

“We have 40-year co-op veterans who say this is the worst and most widespread destruction they’ve seen in their careers. The damage is catastrophic,” said Jim Donahoo, a Laurens Electric Cooperative spokesperson. “We hate to keep using the word ‘unprecedented,’ but it is. We have never experienced this combination of tropical storm-force winds, rainfall and flooding in the Upstate of South Carolina.”

“Laurens Electric was very thankful for our assistance,” Bennett added. “This was a first of its kind of storm for this cooperative. The members were very thankful and excited to see us. We were cooked lunch by several members whose power had been off for 8 days. That was the best lunch we had eaten! We were also given cold drinks and hand-colored cards from a little girl thanking us for turning on her power.”

Nick Hudnall, a Warren RECC Operations Supervisor, thanked Jefferson Energy Cooperative in Wrens, Georgia for their trust in power restoration, saying it “was truly an honor” to help.

“I’ve never been on storm relief where members were so kind to us and understanding of what we were there to do,” Hudnall said. “I’d be more than happy to go back and help these co-ops any time they need it.”

Nearly 10,000 co-op personnel from 24 states descended upon the areas hardest hit by Helene. To help meet the unprecedented demand, the co-ops canceled the 2024 Kentucky Lineman’s Rodeo, scheduled for October 3-4 at East Kentucky Power Cooperative. The annual event is a highlight of the year for Kentucky lineworkers who compete in a variety of events which demonstrate the skills and safety of the trade.

“We are guided by cooperative principles,” said Chris Perry, president and CEO of both Kentucky Electric Cooperatives and United Utility Supply Cooperative which serves co-ops in 20 states. “One of our principles is Cooperation Among Cooperatives, and state borders are no barrier when any member of our co-op family is in crisis.”

In addition to supplying critical materials to co-ops rebuilding after Helene, United Utility Supply donated tens of thousands of bottled water to North Carolina cooperatives whose members faced a water emergency. In daily contact with other statewide co-op associations, Kentucky Electric Cooperatives coordinated the record mutual aid deployment after Helene.

“Many of the co-ops where we are restoring power after Helene have sent mutual aid crews into Kentucky after ice storms, windstorms and tornadoes here,” said Randy Meredith, Director of Safety and Training at Kentucky Electric Cooperatives. “Mutual aid deployments provide invaluable training opportunities, so co-op crews everywhere are better prepared to respond to emergencies here at home.”

“There was a lot of damage, wires down and broken poles,” explained Jacob Courtney, a Kenergy line technician based in Marion. “Every consumer-member that we met was very appreciative and thankful for us being there. We worked long hours in some tough territory, but we were happy to help where we could.”

Working to restore power in North Carolina, Licking Valley RECC crews emphasized the similarities of their respective service territories and workforces.

“If Licking Valley ever needs help, we need to call the guys at Blue Ridge Energy,” said Licking Valley RECC Lineman Trenton Reed. “Great guys and experienced hill climbers.”

“Couldn’t ask for a better a group of guys to work with,” added his co-worker, Evan Robertson.

The top priority of each local Kentucky co-op is service to its own consumer-members. 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.

The Kentucky electric co-op mutual aid crews regard the co-op members devasted by Helene as some of their own.

“These are the nicest and most patient members I’ve ever met,” VonBokern said, “given their circumstances.”

“All in all,” added Bennett, “long days and hard work bring joy and the return of some normalcy for people in need.”