Pounding rain on March 1 followed by nine inches of snow left as many as 33,000 members affected. Madison County was the hardest hit territory, with more than 99 percent of the district impacted. A total of 128 broken poles had to be replaced, slowing restoration efforts down. Crews from neighboring cooperatives as well as contractors worked tirelessly alongside Jackson EMC crews to get the power back on as quickly and safely as possible.

“The restoration process moves slower in winter storms like this one because as the snow and ice melts, driving through the mud and slush to get to areas to repair takes longer. Often, our trucks get bogged down and require a tow truck to pull them out,” says Randall Pugh, Jackson EMC president/CEO. In many instances, line crews had to cut through fallen trees and limbs to get to power poles, and line personnel had to climb poles when conditions didn’t allow for bucket trucks. “Even in the worst conditions, most of our members are patient and we understand when some become concerned. We don’t realize how much we rely on power until it’s not there.”

Power restoration after a storm involves several steps. Each step in the process is strategically planned to restore power safely to the greatest number of members in the shortest time possible. “This year’s winter storm put our restoration efforts to the test once again, and we’re proud to serve a membership who understands that when the power is out, we’re working around the clock to get them restored,” says Pugh. “We’re also grateful to come through the restoration process without any injuries. Restoring power in inclement weather is extremely dangerous because the conditions are harsh. Ice, freezing temperatures and falling tree limbs are among a few of the hazards our line crews must contend with during restoration efforts.”

After five days in the winter storm’s wake, power was restored to the remaining few hundred members without power.

For more information about how Jackson EMC deals with restoring power, go to the Storm Center.