Chatham utility crews to assist in Florida

Will help restore electricity in Tampa following hurricane Irma’s devastation

After hurricane Irma devastated much of Florida, Entegrus crews have been dispatched to help out in the state, including a team from Chatham.

Tampa Electric, which serves the greater Tampa area and central Florida, issued a call for assistance during the restoration efforts.

More than four million customers currently remain without power in Florida. Entegrus went on standby last Friday.

The Chatham-based utility sent a crew of nine power line maintainers and supervisors to the Tampa area, according to a media release on Wednesday.

The crew left Wednesday morning, after organizing workers and equipment from surrounding utilities, including St. Thomas Energy, Essex Powerlines, Bluewater Power and Erie Thames Powerlines.

They will be sent to locations requiring the most assistance, while the utility maintains sufficient local coverage.

“We expect our crew to be gone for two weeks,” Keith McAllister, Entegrus vice-president of engineering, said in the release. “It depends on the extent of the damage, and if parts of their electric system will need to be rebuilt.

“The crew will have a better idea of what they’re facing once they arrive.”

Hurricane Irma has been described as the most powerful Atlantic hurricane on record.

The utility said that the safety of its crew is a priority, adding the team is well equipped and experienced to assist in such an environment.

“We’re pleased to be in the position to send assistance to those who need it,” said Jim Hogan, president and CEO of Entegrus. “Our hearts go out to those affected by this devastating storm.”

The Entegrus crew will be joining almost 60,000 workers from across the U.S. and Canada who are dedicated to restoration efforts throughout Florida and Georgia, as well as parts of Alabama, North Carolina, and South Carolina, where more than 5.5 million customers combined remain without power.

Entegrus has previously assisted with such restoration efforts as the 2014 ice storm in the Greater Toronto Area, and in New Jersey in 2012 in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.