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Tag: Escambia River Electric Cooperative

SECO Energy Employees Praised for Hurricane Sally Restoration Assistance

In mid-September when Hurricane Sally left thousands of Florida Panhandle residents without power, SECO Energy answered Escambia River Electric Cooperative’s (EREC) call for assistance. On September 17, thirteen SECO employees departed in a caravan of trucks bound for EREC’s service area to aid in power restoration.

 

After five days of repairing damage and restoring members’ service, SECO Energy employees were released and safely returned home. The damage was extensive with 95 percent of EREC members out of service once Hurricane Sally exited the area. Crews from EREC, SECO and nearby cooperatives repaired transmission lines, substations and individual residential and commercial services.

 

EREC’s CEO Ryan Campbell reached out personally to SECO Energy CEO Jim Duncan to express his gratitude for the dedicated, highly trained professionals who volunteered to travel to the Panhandle to assist with hurricane restoration. CEO Campbell states, “Our call for help was answered with manpower that rose to the challenge and succeeded through teamwork and perseverance. There is no better example of cooperation among cooperatives. Again, we send our heartfelt gratitude to you and your outstanding crews for their assistance during this challenging time.”

 

CEO Jim Duncan appreciates the gratitude from EREC and the hard work of the employees who traveled to the Panhandle. Duncan stated, “SECO Energy is proud and honored to answer the call for help from a fellow cooperative. Our employees are the best in the business and we’re thankful for their selfless volunteer spirit and their safe return home.”

 

“Like” SECO on Facebook and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

SECO Energy Crews to Aid Hurricane Sally Restoration

SECO Energy is sending crews to aid in power restoration after Hurricane Sally left thousands without power in the Florida Panhandle. Thirteen SECO employees left the Ocala Operations Center early this morning traveling to Escambia River Electric Cooperative (EREC) in Jay, Florida.

 

Hurricane Sally made landfall in Gulf Shores, Alabama as a CAT 2 hurricane in the early morning hours of September 16. The hurricane weakened into a tropical depression and turned east into the Florida Panhandle. Residents in the Panhandle have experienced torrential rains and flooding.

 

A module of first-class line personnel, a supervisor, a superintendent and a first-class mechanic will arrive in the Panhandle to begin assisting with power restoration this afternoon. EREC serves over 11,000 members in Santa Rosa and Escambia Counties. This morning, more than 8,800 members of EREC are without power.

 

CEO Jim Duncan is honored that SECO Energy can aid Panhandle residents. Duncan stated, “As a Florida electric cooperative, we know firsthand how devastating hurricanes, tropical storms and tropical depressions are for our members. We are honored to send crews to help EREC restore power for the members it serves.”

 

Duncan continued, “SECO places a top priority on safety and our employees do as well. The energy industry carries inherent dangers and working in an area that has been damaged by a storm is even more treacherous. My thoughts are with the Florida residents and business owners affected by Hurricane Sally and for the safety of crews working to restore service.”

 

Vice President of Reliability and Operations John LaSelva stated, “Cooperation among cooperatives is one of our seven cooperative principles. When called, SECO is willing to send mutual aid and offer assistance to our cooperative peers. I am grateful for our employees who show their commitment to the cooperative purpose by volunteering to help others.”

 

SECO team members reporting to EREC:

 

Mark Bowling
Todd Yates
Bryan Lancaster
Dave Kerns
Jimmy Johns
Ryan Hendrix
Derek Eveleth
Brandon Blackmon
Gary Zachary
Paul Byrd
Tommy Lakin
Chris Reynolds
Rick Walsh

“Like” SECO on Facebook and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases, cooperative updates and for weather information and updates affecting SECO’s service area.