Bartow, FL recognizes mutual aid workers from Minnesota hometown utilities with proclamation

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Bartow, FL recognizes mutual aid workers from Minnesota hometown utilities with proclamation

January 11, 2023

PLYMOUTH, MN, January 11, 2023—On November 21, 2022, Mayor Steve Githens of Bartow, FL issued a proclamation naming the date as “Hurricane Ian Line Workers & Tree Trimmers Appreciation Day” in honor of the mutual aid providers in the wake of the 2022 storm. Recognized in the proclamation were the workers from 14 Minnesota utilities and MMUA personnel who assisted in restoring power to customers following Hurricane Ian.

Hurricane Ian caused significant outages throughout Florida, leaving 2.7 million people without power at its peak. The damage in Bartow was widespread, with many mature oak trees blocking roadways, broken poles and wire on the ground, and power outages for many of the utility customers. Municipal utility workers from across the country, including the 40 members of the Minnesota crews, worked to restore power to citizens in the week following the storm.

“Restoring power as quickly and safely as possible following a storm or hurricane is always our primary goal,” said Mayor Githens in an accompanying letter of thanks to participating utilities. “On behalf of the entire Bartow community, words cannot express how grateful we all are for sending your crews to assist us.”

MMUA would like to thank the utilities and communities of Alexandria, Anoka, Austin, Brainerd, Buffalo, Elk River, Marshall, Missouri River Energy Services, Moorhead, New Ulm, Owatonna, Rochester, Shakopee, and Willmar for swiftly answering the call to assist hometown power in Florida. MMUA also thanks Granite Electronics of St. Cloud, MN for generously donating radios for use during deployment and Rochester Public Utilities for hosting the deployment staging area and supplying extra traffic cones.

To download this statement as a media release, please click here.