By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
As Hurricane Helene barrels toward Florida, three Bowling Green electric linemen are headed south to help restore power to people.
Volunteering to help after the hurricane are Tim Brubaker, Zach Stewart and Trevor Tyson, all journeymen linemen for the city.
As sector coordinator for AMP Ohio, John Stewart, head of BG’s electric division, gets the call when regions expect that they won’t be able to handle storm impacts on their own.
“As soon as that happens, we start sending out emails to see who is available,” John Stewart said.
In addition to the people, Bowling Green is also sending a bucket truck and a pickup truck, since much of the work will likely be off paved roads.
“A lot of it will be climbing,” he said.
The Bowling Green crew was joined by linemen from electric departments in Coldwater, Michigan, and Bryan. They all met up at the BG electric division Tuesday afternoon before heading south on Interstate 75.
It’s not unusual for BG to send linemen to areas in need, as far away as Florida, Louisiana and New York.
“It’s satisfying work, trying to get power back,” Stewart said. “It’s just an ugly situation we have to go into, but that’s our job.”
It’s also exhausting – with crews working 12 to 16 hours a day.
“It’s not for everybody.”
The terrain will be unfamiliar – with downed electric lines, poles and trees. The weather will be hot and muggy. Linemen have to wear long rubber gloves, long sleeves and fire retardant clothing.
“You have to treat everything like it’s energized,” he said.
Crews from out of state usually stay in hotels or FEMA mobile housing. And Florida will be paying the crews.
“There will be thousands of linemen down there,” Stewart said.
It is expected that this crew may be down there for two weeks. “Whoever needs us, we stay.”
“If it goes longer than that, we’ll have to see if anyone wants to swap out,” Stewart said.
Stewart also has to take into consideration electric division staffing back here.
“I have to make sure we have enough linemen to take care of BG,” he said.
The three linemen who volunteered for Hurricane Helene have experience going into unfamiliar areas after major storms.
“You see the devastation. We go to help restore power to people,” Brubaker said. “It’s great getting everyone in there working as a team.”
Zach Stewart recalled previous post-storm trips, seeing houses obliterated and communities devastated. Before they can begin the recovery process, they need power.
“It’s a good feeling putting power back for people,” Tyson said.
Of course there are downsides – like snakes and banana spiders that Tyson described as making webs as big as dinner plates.
“My wife always tells me I’ll be the first one eaten by an alligator,” Brubaker said with a grin.
Then there is the unknown duration of their mission.
Zach Stewart, who has three children at home, will likely miss helping his dad, John, with harvesting crops this year.
Tyson also has three little ones at home. “I had to sweet talk my wife a little bit,” he said, smiling.
And Brubaker has strict instructions about not staying too long.
“I have a daughter getting married in a month,” he said with a smile.
