WASHINGTON 鈥� One week after Hurricane Irma blasted through Florida, Virginia-based utility crews are helping return power to the Sunshine State.
One member of the restoration team tells 蜜桃视频app that for the line workers and tree crews are long.
鈥淥ur work hours are typically 14 hours a day 鈥� 12 to 14, in that range, depending on the intensity of the work. There are definitely long, hot days to the team, so we’re keeping them hydrated and trying to keep them focused,鈥� said Lee Rozier of Chesapeake, Virginia. Rozier works as a manager with Dominion Energy.
Crews worked one day in Daytona, Florida, before arriving in Broward County, just north of Miami-Dade County.
The level of damage Rozier has observed there is similar to what he鈥檚 seen after past tropical storms and smaller hurricanes.
鈥淭he terrain in Florida is, of course, flatter than what we see in our territory.鈥�
The types of trees and vegetation are other differences between the two states. One thing Rozier has not seen: damage caused from trees giving way due to saturated ground.
鈥淭he rain amount prior to a storm entering an area plays a big, big part in trees that can come over more easily. And I would say in this area, we’re not seeing that 鈥� It was more wind blowing branches and, of course, blowing some trees over, but mainly branches and debris that had flown around tearing down the conductor.鈥�
Some of their duties don鈥檛 take lots of time to complete, but in Broward, they have to maneuver through difficult-to-access areas in order to make needed fixes.
鈥淭here’s a lot of backyard construction which is more time consuming, of course, than what it is if you were to be able to drive a vehicle, a bucket truck or an arbor truck right on the side of poles,鈥� said Rozier. 鈥淚n this case, that’s not it. Ninety percent of our work has been in the backyards.鈥�
After 12 to 14 hour days, there鈥檚 very little down time crews have that isn鈥檛 related to resting and getting ready for the next day.
鈥淭he customers have been receptive to us working and getting their lights back on, and we’re glad to be down here to provide service,鈥� said Rozier. We’re going to work as hard as we can to make sure that that’s completed in a timely manner.鈥�
It isn鈥檛 clear exactly how long Dominion Energy crews will remain in Florida.
