CHRISTIANSTED — Linemen from across Missouri sent personnel to St. Croix for storm restoration including Independence Power & Light, City of Harrisonville, Mo., Columbia Water & Light, and Macon Municipal Utilities.
Hannibal Board of Public Works Line Superintendent and four Journeymen Linemen left the continental U.S. on Nov. 25, 2017, and traveled to the Virgin Islands to help restore electric service after two Category 5 hurricanes laid waste to their power system last September.
They took with them two HBPW bucket trucks loaded with supplies, which were transported by cargo ship to the islands.
The five linemen were gone 45 days, missing both the Christmas and New Year’s holidays at home in order to restore power to the island of St. Croix. The crew returned on Jan. 11 to a warm welcome from other HBPW staff.
This isn’t the only time HBPW linemen left for an extended period of time to help with storm restoration. Last September, linemen, along with two bucket trucks and a one-half ton pickup, were dispatched to the Orlando area to restore electric service that was devastated by Hurricane Irma.
Those linemen were gone for 17 days.
Missouri is know as the “show me” state.