John McCarthy
TWO RIVERS, Wisc. — Line workers from our electric utility recently returned from a mutual aid mission in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
They assisted in restoring electric services wiped out by hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017.
Expert line workers Brian Delleman and Darrick Wendricks worked for an initial 30-day rotation on St. Thomas. Expert line workers Jason Harteau and Jason Sisel followed, for a period of about three weeks.
The utility’s small bucket truck was also deployed for this mutual aid effort, organized through the Municipal Electric Utilities of Wisconsin. The truck arrived back in Florida by ship on Feb. 10 and was driven back to Two Rivers by our line workers, arriving home on Feb. 12.
Personnel and equipment costs incurred on this mutual aid effort will be reimbursed by the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA).
The temperature in Madison, Wisconsin today at 6 a.m was negative five degrees Fahrenheit.
“This mutual aid engagement provided a valuable training opportunity for our line workers, as well as an opportunity to assist some of our fellow Americans in the U.S. Virgin Islands,” the utility said.
