AUB Crews Continue to Work in Florida
Media Contact:
Wayne Scarbrough
(423) 745-4501 ext. 6002
wscarbrough@aub.org
September 18, 2017
ATHENS, Tenn.--Athens Utilities Board (AUB) power crews continue to work in Wauchula, Fl., restoring power to a community that was completely in the dark with sweltering heat and humidity following Hurricane Irma.
Wauchula is a city of some 5,100 people about an hour southeast of Tampa.
AUB spokesman Wayne Scarbrough said that the people of Wauchula, while still recovering from the storm, are contacting AUB daily to communicate their appreciation.
"Though the residents there likely have enough to do just getting back to some sense of normalcy, many are reaching out to thank AUB, the linemen and by extension all of Athens.
"We are seeing social media posts by Wauchula residents and are getting emails from individuals and organizations conveying deep gratitude for the help in this incredibly trying time," Scarbrough said.
AUB is part of a Mutual Aid Network of public power utilities that come to the aid of sister systems when disasters strike, crippling or destroying power systems that could take weeks or months to rebuild without help.
"Public power systems like AUB are not about investment returns or profits. Public power is about service to communities," Scarbrough said.
"When crisis strikes in this country we all remember quickly that we're in it together regardless of any other differences we may perceive. Forget politics, forget state lines and societal biases. When others are suffering and we have the ability to help, that has to be the focus," Scarbrough said.
He said that storms such as Irma are tough reminders of the importance and impact of local resources that we all can take for granted.
"After a catastrophe such as Irma or the tornado that hit Athens last fall you realize quickly what it means to have safe and reliable power. Lack of it for a few hours is an inconvenience. Lack of it days or weeks can undermine a local economy and can be life threatening for individuals under certain conditions," Scarbrough said.
He said that via the Mutual Aid Network well over a thousand power linemen have driven hours, even days, to destination communities all over Florida to repair or completely rebuild local power systems.
Scarbrough said that the work the crews are doing goes beyond the power grid.
"When a thousand linemen converge on a storm-ravaged state from a dozen or more other states, they aren't just working outages. They literally are rebuilding the country and doing so at a pace that is remarkable," he said.
AUB crews reported over the weekend that more than more than eighty percent of the Wauchula customer base has been restored with power.
The AUB crews are expected back home later this week.
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