Beech Tree News Network

 March 2, 2018 (Bowling Green, Ky) Today, eight Warren RECC employees left Bowling Green with seven trucks on a mission to aid in restoration efforts, for thousands of residents who were left without power after the nor’easter that hit the Atlantic Coast this week. Winter Storm Riley swept through northern Virginia Friday with damaging winds, heavy, wet snow, and destructive coastal flooding leaving more than 39,000 members without power. High winds continue, bringing down large trees resulting in power outages.

 Warren RECC will assist Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative, where approximately 9,000 members are currently without power. At last report, wind speeds in the Northern Virginia area had topped 70 mph, leading to numerous outages throughout the region. Meterologists predict the storm could be the strongest since Superstorm Sandy pounded the state in 2012.

 “We are proud to be able to send crews to Virginia to help with storm repair. We take great pride in our electric cooperative family and are always glad to be able to help fellow members in need,” said W. Scott Ramsey, CEO of Warren RECC.

 The Warren RECC crews join 43 other employees from 8 Kentucky cooperatives traveling to Virginia as part of a deployment organized through the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives. 

 “As families struggle without power, we’re glad to be able to be on the ground assisting in any way we can,” said Clarence Greene, Safety and Loss Prevention Director for the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives. “Our focus is to assist with power restoration with safety as our top priority.”

 Friday’s deployment comes five months after the largest out-of-state mutual aid deployment in Kentucky electric cooperative history, in response to Tropical Storm Irma. KAEC coordinated the deployment of 150 linemen from 19 Kentucky co-ops to assist in Georgia and Florida.

 The top priority of each local Kentucky co-op is service to its own member-owners.  Before committing resources to mutual aid requests, each co-op ensures it has ample crews available for all local needs, including routine maintenance and emergencies.