As of today, OPPD has two crews working to help restore power Floridians lost during Hurricane Irma.
One group will be helping in the Tampa area and the other in Jacksonville.
Jodi Baker, Media Specialist for OPPD, says a total of 72 went – 24 line technicians, 4 mechanics and 2 supervisors, along with 42 of their contracted tree trimmers.
“They know that there is a ton of work ahead after that long road journey, and Floridians are counting on them. The need right now is so dire, and they are so happy to be able to assist their Public Power Mutual Aid partners and trying to get the lights back on. It’s just been devastating, there are still a ton of people without power and they are really in some tough situations right now.”
Baker says all OPPD crew members who went volunteered to go, and they realize they could be there from two to six weeks. She says the power companies receiving the help will reimburse OPPD, as OPPD had to do after the June storms when crews came from as far away as Alabama. And she says OPPD still has plenty of staff to cover, should Omaha suffer significant power outages while these teams are in Florida.
For updates and pictures, the website is OPPDthewire.com