More Utahns are headed to the Southeast to help with the Hurricane Irma recovery.
A caravan of Rocky Mountain Power utility trucks and bucket trucks left over the weekend. Irma has knocked out power to around 6 million customers, and the Utah crew – which includes 30 linemen -- will help restore their electricity.
“Power can’t be restored,” says company spokesman Spencer Hall, “unless you have someone who’s trained and has the proper equipment.”
Six nurses from Timpanogos Regional Hospital are already on the scene providing medical aid.
And the Utah National Guard has airlifted a satellite communications hub to Puerto Rico along with six people to operate it, says Lieutenant Colonel Steven Fairbourn.
“So that we can expedite and make the most efficient recovery efforts possible,” he says, “to save lives, mitigate suffering and save infrastructure.”
The Utah Guard team also includes two linguists with Spanish-language skills. They’re serving as liaisons between emergency responders and the public.
