Co-ops assist with Katrina relief, send crews
Thousands of people in the Gulf Coast recently faced the unthinkable: deceased, missing and displaced family members; destroyed homes; and injured or missing pets. Adding to the misery, they were stripped of basic needs like food, water and shelter.
Yet, Hurricane Katrina triggered an outpouring of aid from individuals, organizations, and Georgia's 42 generous EMCs, including Cobb EMC. Co-ops have been involved in a number of efforts to assist neighboring cooperatives, whether restoring electricity to hundreds of thousands of members, providing assistance to EMC employees and their families impacted by the hurricane, or cooking for lineworkers who needed a decent meal.
To date, the EMCs have donated $306,000 to assist Louisiana and Mississippi co-op employees and members who were in the path of hurricane Katrina. Electric cooperative employees in the Gulf Region demonstrated unbelievable resolve and dedication following the storm, even though many of them lost their homes and possessions. They delayed the heartbreaking task of rebuilding their own homes and families until they turned the lights back on in Mississippi and Louisiana.
Thousands Helped
EMCs rushed to the region to restore service immediately following the hurricane, often living in tent cities and eating meals in makeshift areas and on tailgates. Over 90 Cobb Energy employees and crews from 33 other EMCs encountered sporadic communications and traveled in unfamiliar areas where road identification signs were destroyed. Cobb EMC also donated four vehicles, stocked with food donated by MUST Ministries, to Coast Electric Power Association in Mississippi. Gresco Utility Supply, Inc., an electrical utility distributor owned by the EMCs in Georgia, Alabama and Florida, has sent nearly 20 truckloads of materials, food, and water for workers and residents. The organization even helped arrange for delivery of a truckload of gasoline to the area.
Residents Grateful
Thank you for restoring our power after five days. Your crews were outstanding! We will always remember who got us out of the dark! Jerry and Norma Neyman, Quitman, MS
Thank you for sending your men to Mississippi. We were without power for five days after Katrina. Seeing your trucks and crews rolling in was a welcome sight indeed. They turned our power back on about 8:45 last night.
We appreciate the sacrifice your people made to come help us when we needed it most. I know these guys will be away from their families for a long time helping other people in need. I was fortunate enough to meet some of your guys at a store not far from my house and I thanked every one of them that I could find. Please let them know that the people of Mississippi appreciate their efforts to help us. You have a great crew working for you. You are all heroes in the dark.
Mike, Cynthia, Morgan (4) and Matthew (2) Partridge, Meridian, MS