Sep 15 2008
Hurricane Cleanup
My husband is an apprentice lineman with an electrical contractor. He helps put power lines up. Right now they are down in Texas helping restore power after Hurricane Ike. He had three days home between Gustav and Ike. The last few months he’s been gone more than home. He went to Michigan twice, Indiana once, Athens Alabama for three weeks, Florida, Louisiana, and now Texas. I really miss him when he’s gone, but I am proud of the work he does.
I know I wouldn’t want to be without power for very long, so always keep that in mind when he has to be away from home. He is helping many people with the work he does. I can’t imagine how people with health problems, young children or the very old, survive during and after these storms. I just always hope they have family helping.
My husband says that most everyone they meet is really nice and grateful. They have met a few that were agitated and frustrated because their power was off. All the crew can do is work as fast and safe as possible, leaving the actual turning on of the power to the local companies. They just try to calm the people down and reassure them that they will have power again soon. It works most of the time. I do worry when I hear about him working in areas that have reported problems with looting and the like.
Hopefully everyone will have power within the week. I know the crews work as fast as possible, and my husband said they are quite a few crews from different companies already there and working. Sometimes putting one line up will turn on thousands of people, and then other times, it’s just one house. They need many crews to get all the power restored.
I will get an update from my husband again today or tonight. He doesn’t get time to call often. I’m just thankful I can hear from him at all. I always pray for his, and the other crew members, safety and health.
I wish all the people in the storm ravaged areas the best. Hopefully we are done with storms for a while!
