Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Kosciusko REMC is joining line crews from Indiana's Touchstone Energy Cooperatives in answering the call for help from hurricane-stricken Mississippi.
KREMC linemen Garry Himes and Kelly Neace departed early this morning, meeting up with crews from Jay County, Miami-Cass and Wabash County REMCs on their journey to the Gulf State region. The crews will join the more than 5,000 line crews from around the country that are already working to restore power to the devastated area.
Specifically, Himes and Neace are on the way to Singing River Electric Power Association in Lucedale, Miss. The Mississippi Statewide Power Association reports that only 26 precent of its member cooperatives' systems, including Singing River, currently has power. The KREMC linemen will be part of the repair and recovery efforts for the next two weeks.
Both Kosciusko REMC linemen were thankful for the opportunity to lend their assistance to the devastated area. "We've heard so much about the devastation," said Himes. "At this point, I'm expecting the worst."
"We're just glad to be able to help out," Neace said.
Other KREMC employees were glad for the opportunity to help out, as well, and spent yesterday afternoon gathering supplies like water, non-perishable food and other necessities for the linemen to distribute to individuals and agencies in need.
Himes and Neace are unsure of what they will face during their time in Mississippi. "I cannot imagine the extent of the destruction or losing everything you have," said Himes. "In our area we may have a tornado touch down and cause damage for a few miles of line."
"Even then," explained Neace, "it takes a matter of days, at most, to restore power. This is completely different."Ê At this time, crews will most likely work sixteen hour shifts each day for at least two weeks.
"Please keep us all - the victims and the relief workers - in your thoughts," Hime said.
ÊAccording to Steve Rhodes, Kosciusko REMC CEO, the cooperative was eager to lend its assistance. "We've all seen the heart-wrenching images of the destruction and hardship the Gulf States are facing," he notes. "We see those images and hear the stories and often feel so powerless to help. We are thankful for the opportunity to be able to do all that we can to aid our fellow cooperatives during this difficult time."
Nearly all of the KREMC linemen volunteered for the trip, a fact which heartened Rhodes. "I'm very proud of our linemen who so willingly volunteered to sacrifice their time with their families to assist in such a way," he said. "That truly exemplifies the cooperative spirit."
Himes and Neace will return within two weeks, at which point they will be replaced by two other KREMC linemen. KREMC officials expect this rotation to continue indefinitely, as long as their sister co-ops in the south express need for assistance.
For updated information on the Indiana crews and the work they are doing, visit the Indiana Statewide Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc. web site at www.indremcs.org and click on the "Indiana's Electric Cooperatives" section. New photos and stories will be added to the site as they become available.
Kosciusko REMCis a member-owned, Touchstone Energy¨ electric cooperative serving more than 16,000 customers throughoutKosciuskoCountyand into surrounding counties.
