B.C. linemen helping clean up Sandy’s mess

The work’s not done yet for a crew of 44 B.C. workers who are in Connecticut helping to repair power lines and clear wreckage following superstorm Sandy.

“We’re committed to stay here and help as much as we can,” said Mike Scott, a manager and storm coordinator with Allteck, a Langley-based power company. “We’re here to help people, so everyone’s forging ahead.”

Scott and his crew of linemen left the Lower Mainland last Saturday to prepare for Sandy’s arrival on the East Coast. They have since been working in the area of East Hampton, Conn., about two hours northeast of New York City, to help restore power and remove downed trees.

Many of the linemen have been working 16-hour shifts, and Scott said locals have more than shown their appreciation for the crew.

The 40-year-old chuckled as he described the “Team Canada” signs on their work trucks, made of red electrical tape.

“They’re definitely working hard to represent,” Scott said of his crew.

He also noted that while the team deserved credit for working hard in tough conditions, their families back in B.C. deserved a nod.

“I’ve got a lot of guys with me who ... had to forego Halloween with their kids and miss watching their kids get dressed up,” Scott said. “It’s definitely a commitment not just from the guys but also from the families.”

For now, Scott said it’s unclear when the team will return to Canada. Once work is complete in Connecticut, there may also be opportunities to help in New Jersey.

Scott said the damage caused by Sandy was significant.

“It’s a new experience for all of us,” he said. “It’s definitely something different, for sure.”