Snohomish County PUD has sent a team of 15 lineworkers, equipment operators, and mechanics to aid the Guam Power Authority (GPA) in restoring power after a destructive typhoon left most of the island's 150,000 residents without electricity.
The crew, accompanied by two transmission line trucks and a mechanics truck, departed early Wednesday morning to support GPA’s restoration efforts. Snohomish PUD CEO/General Manager, John Haarlow, highlighted the importance of mutual aid agreements and expressed pride in their contribution to bringing light back to Guam.
President Joe Biden declared a major disaster for Guam, allowing utilities to seek assistance from FEMA. GPA will reimburse Snohomish PUD staff for their work on the island.
Aaron Janisko, PUD Senior Manager Regional Design and Construction Services, noted the similarity between Guam's system and that of Snohomish PUD, ensuring the crew's familiarity with the tasks at hand.
The assistance is expected to last approximately one month as Snohomish PUD’s crews and support staff collaborate with GPA to restore power.
Following the devastating impact of Typhoon Mawar on May 24, which caused widespread destruction and outages for GPA’s 52,000 customers, GPA reached out to the American Public Power Association for mutual aid. Snohomish County PUD promptly responded, providing valuable assistance to Guam in their time of need.
