Ameren Illinois
Ameren Illinois Crews From Marion, Anna And Sparta
Ameren Illinois Crews From Marion, Anna And Sparta
Ameren Illinois Crews From Marion, Anna And Sparta
Ameren Illinois Crews From Marion, Anna And Sparta
Ameren Illinois Crews From Marion, Anna And Sparta

Coming Together: Crews Travel to East Coast in Wake of Isaias

Aug. 6, 2020
After the recent tropical storm caused power outages for millions of customers, linemen from across North America headed to the East Coast to provide mutual assistance.

When disaster strikes and the lights go out, utilities answer the call for mutual assistance, and linemen hit the road. Following Tropical Storm Isaias, crews from at least 32 states, the District of Columbia and Canada were activated to respond to outages, according to the Edison Electric Institute (EEI).

The storm brought high winds, heavy rains, and destructive tornadoes on its path from Florida through New England. After tracking close to the southeastern Florida coast, the storm made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane in North Carolina late Monday night, before moving North through Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic states and into New England. 

As of 6 p.m. EDT on Aug. 5, about 2.4 million customers were without power in impacted states. Crews have made significant progress to restore power safely and as quickly as possible in areas where damage assessments are complete and it is safe to work, the EEI stated. Power has been restored to about 3.2 million affected customers so far, and companies continue to reallocate crews strategically across the impacted areas to ensure a safe, efficient response.  

Last week, EEI member companies in the path of Isaias triggered their emergency response plans and the industry's mutual assistance networks. For example, Ameren Illinois and Ameren Missouri are voluntary members of the electric power industry's mutual assistance network through EEI.  Ameren has helped with catastrophic events such as Hurricane Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico in 2017, Superstorm Sandy in 2012 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

On the morning of Aug. 6, about 50 Ameren Illinois personnel and 70 contractor personnel, including linemen, fleet, logistics and safety departed to assist crews from Eversource Energy in Connecticut. Ameren Missouri is sending more than 125 co-worker and contractor resources from across the state to assist Eversource and Public Service Enterprise Group in New Jersey.

"We have extensive experience in restoration efforts in Illinois. We will rely on that experience to answer the call for people in the greater Connecticut area," said Richard Mark, chairman and president, Ameren Illinois. "My thoughts and prayers are with those in the aftermath of the hurricane and for all personnel traveling to respond to this event."

“When a major weather event affects the United States, Ameren Missouri stands ready to lend a hand,” said Marty Lyons, chairman and president of Ameren Missouri. “Ameren customers in both Missouri and Illinois have benefited many times from mutual aid from sister utilities following storms here in the Midwest, and we are glad that the expertise, skill and dedication of our co-workers and contractors will be there for other Americans in need, now and through the remainder of hurricane season.”

Ameren response personnel and crew are taking extra precautions to mitigate the risks associated with COVID-19. Preventive actions, such as social distancing and use of protective eyewear and gloves, are being implemented.

Hurricane Isaias made landfall on the evening of Aug. 3 near Myrtle Beach, N.C., as a Category 1 hurricane bringing with it sustained winds of 90 miles per hour. Millions of people are without power along the East Coast.

See below for a video clip to learn more about Ameren lends a hand when disaster strikes through mutual assistance. 

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