MONROE, Ga. – Six electric line crews from Walton Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) will leave for coastal Georgia tomorrow morning to help restore power to victims of Hurricane Matthew.

The crews will assist Coastal Electric Cooperative based in Midway.  Coastal serves 15,000 customers in Bryan, Liberty, Long and McIntosh counties just south of Savannah.

Because electric cooperatives follow the same power line construction standards, the Walton EMC crews will be able to go right to work when they arrive in Midway.  They can work side-by-side with local crews or independently.

Depending on the extent of the damage, replacement crews may be sent to relieve the initial crews after several days.

Additional hazards face electric crews after natural disasters.  Fallen trees can put excess tension on wires and flooding can make access to repairs difficult.  The rising waters can also displace poisonous snakes and make mosquito populations explode. Many times, crews have to cut a path through downed trees just to reach repair sites.

“There is also the hazard from incorrect use of standby generators,” said Walton EMC’s Greg Brooks, community and public relations director.  “Small generators can put several thousand volts back out on power lines if they are not correctly installed, presenting a hazard for line technicians or anyone else who may come in contact with them.”

Walton EMC is a customer-owned power company that serves 125,000 accounts between Atlanta and Athens.  Learn more at waltonemc.com.  Coastal Electric Cooperative’s website is coastalelectriccooperative.com.

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