It has been a defining and deeply devastating moment for the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season: two back-to-back monster storms battering the Southeast in a span of less than two weeks. First Helene, then Milton lashed Florida’s Gulf Coast with deadly flooding and destructive winds, as well as damage from unprecedented tornadoes generated by the second storm. The toll of two major hurricanes in such a short amount of time has left people in the Sunshine State reeling and communities in ruins, with barely any time to recover in between.
Few parts of the southeastern region were spared from this one-two punch of tropical weather. Only a week and a half before Milton, entire communities from Virginia to the Carolinas were left unrecognizable by the widespread wrath of Helene. Some were unreachable for days after being cut off by mudslides and washed-out roads and bridges. The catastrophic hurricane also knocked out power and cell service for millions of people, leaving residents in a virtual black hole as they frantically tried to reach their loved ones and even making it difficult to call 911.
Responding to historic disasters like these requires a massive relief effort comprised of agencies from all levels of government, along with nonprofits and mutual aid from utilities across the country. Among the thousands who didn’t hesitate to answer the call for help: dozens of Eversource crews from Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire who traveled to storm-ravaged Virginia to help turn the lights back on after Helene.
“I was always waiting for my opportunity. I got that call and I was happy to take it,” said Cayle Sargent, Eversource Electric Operations Manager as he and fellow lineworkers proudly packed up their trucks for the long trip to the storm zone. His colleague, Lambert Givens, echoed that sentiment. “I know if I was out of power, I would want somebody to come and help me,” said Givens.
The electric industry’s auxiliary crew network is a critical system that connects hundreds of utilities and contract crew workforces across the United States and Canada. When disaster strikes, this network can be called upon to supplement highly skilled crews from companies like Eversource, providing trained workers and specialized equipment to help speed restoration. It is a cornerstone of utility response during emergencies that was on full display in the wake of Helene, as it was an all-hands-on-deck effort to help reach the countless powerless areas that were cut off by mudslides and flooding.
“This is what mutual aid is all about,” said Steve Sullivan, Eversource President of Electric Operations in Connecticut. “When a strong storm impacts Connecticut, we rely on this extensive network of outside crews to help us restore power to our customers as quickly and safely as possible. We’re always ready to return the favor when possible, while making sure we keep the appropriate number of crews here at home to address any local issues. We’re proud of our dedicated lineworkers who selflessly stepped up to help down South in the wake of Helene and grateful to the ones who were on standby ready to go to Florida if we got the call after Milton.”
While Eversource is always willing to help other energy companies in their times of need, requests for assistance are usually geographically strategic — directed to utilities closer to the disaster zone to not waste precious time, sometimes days, waiting for crews to come from much further away, like Connecticut, as was the case with Milton. After assessing the damage in Florida and evaluating where the most significant impacts were following the storm, local utilities found there were enough resources available to help from nearby states such as Alabama and Louisiana. With Helene, the destruction stretched across hundreds of miles through multiple states, making it more urgent for utilities to cast a wider net with their calls for help.
It’s undeniable that the impacts of climate change are increasing the frequency and intensity of storms with each passing year. When time is of the essence, especially following major storms, mobilization of external crews is fundamental to restoring power for customers. This season, the call for help came from the Southeast, but the next destructive hurricane could just as easily take aim at New England. Utilities like Eversource will be prepared and ready to respond, but they can’t do it alone or without cost.
“Storm response is not a one-person job – it takes close, year-round coordination with emergency management, public safety officials, first responders, community leaders, and our utility partners from across the country,” said Sullivan. “We’re constantly refining our planning and emergency response processes, and we look forward to continued collaboration and discussions with our state and local partners that will enable us to execute the best level of storm response for our customers.”
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