Minnesotans to Leave Saturday for Hurricane Irma Response
Minnesotans to Leave Saturday for Hurricane Irma Response
September 8, 2017
The American Public Power Association (APPA) has asked the Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association (MMUA) to organize electric system ‘mutual aid’ crews to head for Kissimmee, Florida in anticipation of substantial storm recovery work that will be needed in the wake of Hurricane Irma.
The primary reason that Minnesota crews are being called on in advance of the storm is that ‘Public Power’ systems in the Southeast are either helping with storm recovery in Texas, or keeping their crews at home in anticipation of potential damage from Irma.
As of noon Friday, Minnesota municipal utilities anticipated sending 44 crew members along with a variety of bucket trucks, digger derricks, and other trucks. MMUA will be sending a staff member along to coordinate efforts.
People and crews are scheduled to leave from the Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) Service Center at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Municipal utilities participating in the initial wave of Irma-related mutual aid come from Alexandria, Anoka, Austin, Brainerd, Chaska, Elk River, Grand Rapids, Moorhead, Missouri River Energy Services, New Ulm, Owatonna, Redwood Falls, Rochester, St. James, Shakopee, Sleepy Eye, Marshall Municipal Utilities and MMUA.
The Minnesota crews will use Paducah, Ky., as an initial staging area.
For more on the hurricane mutual aid effort, see the APPA Public Power Daily.
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