Lineworker crews from Columbia and other Missouri cities were sent to Florida Tuesday in the wake of Hurricane Michael.
The Missouri Public Utility Alliance sent crews from nine cities to Florida to keep the power on during Hurricane Michael. The crews left early Tuesday morning, representing Carthage, Columbia, Hannibal, Higginsville, Independence, Macon, Nixa, Poplar Bluff, and Waynesville. A crew from Conway, Ark. was also sent.
“They [will] end up replacing poles and lines and transformer and all kinds of electric distribution system work in order to help the local utility get the power back on,” MPUA spokesperson Kerry Cordray said.
Cordray said it is unclear where the workers will be stationed. There is a coordinating group on the ground in Florida and around the Gulf Coast. Workers could be deployed to other areas in the state.
Coordinators from the Florida Municipal Electric Association issued a call for mutual aid assistance on October 7.
The Missouri Task Force-1 was also deployed to Alabama Tuesday morning to help with hurricane relief.