Employees from 20 Iowa Electric cooperatives have been working in southeast Georgia and northern Florida, helping restore power to residents impacted by Hurricane Irma. Safety Director John Dvorak tells WHO Radio News 46 workers from Iowa are there, along with 26 vehicles.
Dvorak says they're working in remote, rural areas, and have had to cut down a lot of brush. He says in addition to wildlife, (snakes and alligators) they're concerned about the stability of large pine trees, with a shallow root system.
He says residents they've encountered have been very grateful, and surprised to learn they traveled the long distance from Iowa to help with the restoration effort.
He says crews may be able to return to Iowa within two-to-three days.
MidAmerican Energy has announced they're sending 34 more employees to Georgia, on top of nearly 300 already sent to the region. Alliant Energy has also sent hundreds of employees to areas impacted by Hurricane Irma.
The electrical restoration has been called the largest effort of its kind, after a natural disaster in the United States.