Line Technicians from Blue Ridge Electric Sent to Alabama
For Immediate Release
Contact: Renee Whitener, Director of Public Relations, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, (828) 758-2383 ext. 3213; Pager:1-800-471-1323; or E-mail: Renee Whitener
Lenoir, North Carolina (July 12, 2005) – Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation sent line crews on Monday to Alabama to assist sister cooperatives with damages caused by Hurricane Dennis, a major hurricane that hit the northern Gulf Coast earlier this week.
Thirteen line technicians from Caldwell, Watauga and Ashe district offices were sent to Southern Pine Electric Cooperative in Brewton, Alabama.
Blue Ridge Electric’s line technicians joined with nearly 200 other cooperative linemen from across the state now assisting sister cooperatives in Alabama. The deployment of help is part of a mutual aid agreement shared between the nation’s nearly 1000 electric cooperatives to help one another in times of emergency, such as natural disasters.
“It’s the cooperative way,” said Robert Kent, director of operations for Blue Ridge Electric. “When a sister cooperative needs help, we go no matter the conditions. It’s all worth it when you help someone get their lights back on.”
Blue Ridge Electric serves some 68,000 members in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, Avery, Alexander and Wilkes counties.
