Carroll Electric Membership Cooperative activated Level One of its Emergency Response Plan Wednesday, Sept. 6, and Level Two by Thursday, Sept. 7 as it prepares for and continues to monitor the storm and potential damage of Hurricane Irma Monday evening through Tuesday afternoon.
Hurricane Irma poses a very real threat to the cooperative’s service territory and is expected to be a Hurricane Opal-like event. Opal was one of the most damaging events to the western Georgia area more than 20 years ago. Irma is expected to enter the area as a strong tropical storm with wind gusts between 45-60 mph and deliver 5 to 7 inches of rain.
With widespread power outages expected, it could take multiple days to restore power, or even weeks in certain areas of our territory or across the state. Line personnel will be dispatched to restore power after the storms as soon as it is safe for them to do so.
“Safety is our company’s primary concern and always will be,” said Tommy Cook, Carroll EMC Construction Manager. “Our linemen understand that working around storms and high winds increases the danger they face. While restoring power quickly is a priority for us, it will never be more important than someone’s life.”
Carroll EMC is stocked with poles, wire, connectors, transformers and other supplies frequently used in the restoration process. Vendors have been contacted to be on standby in case additional materials are needed. Multiple crews from out-of-state cooperatives from Illinois, Kentucky and Oklahoma have been contracted and arrived to Carroll EMC headquarters. With 145 employees, 70 plus fleet vehicles, 110 additional contracted linemen and the maximum amount of material procured and staged around its 1,100 square-mile-territory, Carroll EMC continues to prepare for Hurricane Irma.
Carroll EMC is a Member-owned cooperative providing electricity to more than 51,000 homes and businesses. The co-op serves Members in Carroll, Haralson, Heard, Paulding, Polk and Troup counties. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. For more information visit the cooperative’s website at carrollemc.com or follow Carroll EMC on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram and LinkedIn. Carroll EMC: Community Built. Community Builder.
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