For Immediate Release
For more information, contact:
K.D. Bryant, Sr. PR/Communications Specialist
Jackson Electric Membership Corporation
706-367-6163 (office)
678-207-7901 (cell)

Jackson EMC Sends Line Crews to Mississippi for Hurricane Katrina Restoration Efforts

JEFFERSON, Ga., August 31, 2005 — Twenty-five Jackson EMC employees rolled out in a 14-truck convoy today, en route to 4-County Electric Power Association, an electric cooperative in northeastern Mississippi. Line crews will assist in power restoration following destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina.

More than 30,000 of 4-County's 42,000 members were without power Tuesday afternoon. By late evening, substations and most major circuits were repaired leaving only 8,000 without power today. Restoration efforts are expected to last two weeks.

"Getting substations and circuits repaired is a small portion of the repair work to be done. Repairing damaged electrical equipment like broken poles and downed power lines is a slow process," says Jim Smith, Jackson EMC Engineering & Operations division manager.

"Approximately 225 EMC employees from across the state joined in efforts to assist EMCs in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. In devastating times like this, you can see the true cooperative spirit at work, and we're glad we can be a part of it."

As employees travel to Mississippi, Jackson EMC expects seven contractor crews released to Florida, to return by Monday. Crews left last Thursday, answering Florida's call for storm recovery assistance before Katrina made landfall. About 55 contractors make up the seven crews. Contractor crews supplement Jackson EMC's regular employee workforce, handling construction projects and right-of-way clearing.

Jackson EMC serves more than 180,000 meters in portions of 10 Northeast Georgia counties.

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