[WARC] Why we need to continue planning, preparing, and practicing emergency communications activities.

[Len Litvan]

The following is from the September 2007 issue of Light Conversation", 
the newsletter of Tri-County Electric Cooperative headquartered in Rushford.

"About 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, Brian Kambeer [TEC President & CEO] received 
a call from the Rushford fire chief, who also doubles as the 
cooperative’s line superintendent, that about four feet of water from 
Rush Creek had risen over the dike and was endangering TEC’s warehouse 
and office.

Kambeer met lineworkers Keith Pederson and Joe Jordan at 6 a.m. and 
waded through waist high water to get to the warehouse.

Water was nearing Pederson’s chest on his route to get the warehouse 
door open and then he and Jordan tried to start line trucks that were 
being submerged in water.

Unfortunately, the guys were only able to get one line truck to start. 
TEC lost 25 vehicles. After the vehicles didn’t start, other employees 
began showing up to try to fish out some of the equipment. Employees 
were literally diving in the water for tools."

...

"The possessions of Rushford residents lay on the curbs of city 
boulevards and streets. Damages included the flooding of 277 
single-family homes. Thirty-five manufactured homes and trailers were 
almost completely submerged for two days. Forty apartment units were 
damaged and 70 private businesses were affected."


Awesome. Just awesome....

73,
Len KC0RSX