Lineworkers from five of South Dakota’s rural electric cooperatives, including Sioux Valley Energy, will work in South Carolina to help restore power along Hurricane Helene’s path of destruction.
The 18 lineworkers – eight from Sioux Valley Energy, four from East River Electric Power Cooperative, two from Oahe Electric Cooperative, two from Bon Homme Yankton Electric Association and two from West River Electric Association – left for the southeast Wednesday, October 2. They will work alongside Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative crews near Pickens, S.C. to restore power.
The storm made landfall last week as a Category 4 hurricane with 140-plus mph winds. High winds and falling trees did catastrophic damage to power distribution lines. After the storm, Blue Ridge Electric reported more than 450 downed utility poles, leaving 90% of its service area, or 64,000 meters, without power.
When Blue Ridge Electric sent out a call for help, South Dakota’s cooperatives answered.
“This is what electric co-ops do – we help one another in times of need. That is the benefit of the cooperative model and the principle ‘cooperation amongst cooperatives,’” said Tim McCarthy, Sioux Valley Energy general manager and CEO.
“Mutual aid is one of our main principles in the co-op family,” said Mark Patterson, Manager of Loss Control Services at South Dakota Rural Electric Association. “When our sister co-ops are in trouble, we’re there to assist, and we’re sending guys and equipment 1,200-plus miles to get there.”
The convoy includes bucket trucks, skid steers, an ATV, and other equipment crews will use while making repairs in the swampy and mountainous terrain.
Their work will include setting poles and building distribution lines.
“Sioux Valley Energy has been on the receiving end of mutual aid from other cooperatives during storm restoration, and so our lineworkers are answering the call to help Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative in South Carolina through the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. As of Wednesday morning, it looks like Blue Ridge had just over 21,000 members out of power. We thank the lineworkers for their commitment and dedication, and know they will do a great job,” said McCarthy.
Lineworkers were told to expect to stay in tents, work long days, and to prepare for less-than-ideal conditions. The volunteering lineworkers are prepared to stay in South Carolina between two and four weeks.
