April 29, 2011 – MONROE, NC – On April 28, Union Power crews set out for northwest Alabama to aid fellow linemen of Tombigbee Electric Cooperative in restoring power to members there. A series of deadly tornadoes swept through Alabama and other southern states on Wednesday, leaving behind death and devastation.
Reports say that nearly 300 people were killed across six states — more than two-thirds of them in Alabama. In some areas, the tornadoes flattened entire towns. The twisters have crippled electric infrastructure, leaving millions of people without power.
Union Power crews will be working to make repairs to downed lines and help with new construction of lines near Guin, Alabama, southwest of Huntsville. Due to the extensive damage in the area, crews anticipate a weeklong stay before returning home.
Cooperation among cooperatives is a long-standing principle of electric cooperatives. “Electric co-ops are like a big family,” said Lonnie Kirkley, Union Power’s manager of operations. Crews from six other North Carolina cooperatives have answered Alabama’s call for help.
In the aftermath of severe weather, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and ice storms, that can quickly damage electric infrastructure, electric cooperatives pitch in to help one another restore power to members as quickly as possible. Union Power crews have responded to the call for help many times, traveling to Mississippi following Hurricane Katrina and to Kentucky in the aftermath of severe ice storms. They have also assisted other North Carolina cooperatives.
Electric co-ops in the region return the favor when needed. During the aftermath of Hurricane Hugo and after other severe storms, sister co-ops have sent crews who worked alongside Union Power linemen to restore power to our members.
“If a disaster like this hits us here at home and we need assistance, we’re confident that help can arrive quickly. Electric cooperatives look out for each other, and we are very glad to help our neighbors in Alabama.”
- Tony Herrin, Union Power General Manager
Union Power Cooperative is a member-owned electric cooperative, which provides electric service to more than 65,000 members in Union, Stanly, Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, and Rowan counties.
Monroe Corporate Office P.O. Box 5014 Monroe, NC 28111-5014 FAX: (704) 296-0408 Oakboro Division P.O. Box 549 Oakboro, NC 28129-0549 Phone: (704) 289-3145 or 1-800-922-6840
2011 Union County, NC
