JANESVILLE – In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s destruction across the southeastern United States, two local electric linemen volunteering with Rock Energy Cooperative left last Wednesday to help restore power in South Carolina.
Bill Wright and Devin Sieling are among a 45- member crew of linemen belonging to 15 Wisconsin electric cooperatives participating in hurricane recovery efforts. Janesville cooperative REC hosted the crew by providing lunch and using their space as a hub before the group departed for South Carolina.
According to Chris Tullar, operations manager of Janesville REC, team members ensured the REC crew had up to date safety gear and understood the conditions of the area and what they were getting themselves into.
“Safety is a top priority, so reviewing with them the safety rules, policies, and procedures that the crews are expected to adhere to was very important. We went over what the working conditions are there and instructed them on the special tools and equipment needed for the challenging conditions they will be dealing with,” Tuller said.