By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Three crew members from the Bowling Green Electric Division are on their way to Florida to help in the wake of Hurricane Dorian, which is slowly bearing down on the coast.
Scott Gonyer, Dean Ridner and Trevor Tyson are driving a bucket truck and line truck to Ocala, Florida, to provide mutual aid in case power is knocked out by hurricane strength winds.
The crew has no idea what the situation will be in Ocala – or what kind of accommodations might be available for them.
“The last time, the guys had to stay in the county jail” – that was the only available lodging, said John Stewart, head of Bowling Green’s electric division. But at least at the jail, the crew had beds, food and a laundry available to them, he said.
“You know when you go into this, the accommodations aren’t going to be great,” he said.
Stewart knows first hand. In the past he’s helped restore power after storms in Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and elsewhere in Ohio.
The electric crew heading south volunteered for the job, and left Bowling Green on Sunday at 5 a.m. The trip has already had some challenges including their trailers blowing two tires along the way.
They are caravaning down to Florida with other Ohio electric workers who met up in Piqua, according to Brian O’Connell, director of Bowling Green Public Utilities.
“They get in a big caravan line and drive south,” O’Connell said.
Restoring power is vital for facilities like hospitals, nursing homes, police and fire stations, and emergency shelters, Stewart said.
“They’ve got to have power for the people who don’t have power at their homes, for them to get some rest and relief,” he said. “The sooner we get power to them, the sooner they can go home.”
In this case, Ocala was the first community asking for assistance. The Bowling Green crew was hitting 30 mph winds as they headed into Florida today, Stewart said.
“They want to get settled in and see what this storm brings,” he said.
Bowling Green tries to answer the need for mutual aid whenever possible. But Stewart and O’Connell have to make sure that loaning out the workers won’t shortchange Bowling Green.
“The other linemen know we’re going to be down for awhile,” O’Connell said.
Stewart has to take into consideration the weather forecast here, the workload planned in Bowling Green, and the crew members on vacation.
“We’re doing real good here. By no means am I going to short us here,” he said.
Stewart advised Gonyer, Ridner and Tyson to prepare for helping with the recovery in Florida for up to 10 days.
“I told them to pack for a week,” he said.
The city of Bowling Green will pay the crew offering mutual aid, then be reimbursed by the municipalities the workers assist, O’Connell said.
