Cooperative Principle #6: Cooperation Among Cooperatives was on full display as 353 Missouri Lineworkers answered the call to assist the southeast in their recovery efforts after the devastation left behind by Hurricane Helene. Ozark Electric responded immediately, sending a team of six linemen to assist cooperatives in Georgia. The first team of linemen departed on September 27 and spent approximately 12 days in Georgia assisting Okefenoke REMC in Nahunta and Little Ocmulgee EMC in Alamo. A second team of six departed on October 8 to allow our first group to return home to their families. All of our linemen have since returned home. We are grateful for the dedication of our linemen and their willingness to help others in their time of need.

The full press release from Mike Sutherland, Vice President of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, summarizing Missouri's mutual aid efforts can be found below:

Answering the Call: 353 Missouri Lineworkers Assist in Hurricane Helene Recovery for Georgia Co-ops

When one of the most destructive storms in history hit the Southeastern U.S., Missouri electric cooperatives answered the call. In total, 353 lineworkers representing 33 Missouri electric cooperatives assisted five electric cooperatives in Georgia that suffered extensive damage to their systems, resulting in widespread outages due to Hurricane Helene.

The 353 Missouri lineworkers joined thousands of other lineworkers and personnel from across the cooperative family to repair the unprecedented damage. The teams, who brought their own machinery, equipment and tools, worked to assess the damage and assigned resources as efficiently as possible while prioritizing safety in this dangerous environment. The lineworkers worked in multiple shifts over the last month to restore power to each of the electric cooperatives they assisted and have now returned to Missouri.

“When disaster strikes, the cooperative family stands together, and that commitment was evident in the dedication of our Missouri lineworkers during Hurricane Helene,” said Caleb Jones, CEO of Missouri Electric Cooperatives. “These crews worked tirelessly, often in challenging conditions, to help restore power to communities in Georgia. Their willingness to step up and support others in need speaks volumes about the cooperative spirit we uphold here in Missouri.”

On a national scale, AccuWeather estimated total damage and economic loss from Helene at $145 billion to $160 billion, making it one of the costliest storms on record. The Georgia cooperatives included Altamaha EMC in Lyons, Canoochee EMC in Reidsville, Excelsior EMC in Metter, Little Ocmulgee in Alamo, and Okefenoke REMC in Nahunta.

Missouri’s electric cooperatives have a long history of lending a helping hand to their cooperative peers in trying times, exemplifying the sixth principle that guides electric cooperatives — cooperation among cooperatives. Missouri electric cooperatives first helped with hurricane relief efforts in 2004 when the Gulf Coast was hit by Hurricane Ivan, and they have continued to provide aid ever since. Their most recent deployment responding to a hurricane was in 2021 when crews traveled to Louisiana electric cooperatives following Hurricane Ida.

Missouri’s restoration efforts were coordinated by Missouri Electric Cooperatives. Three staff members were onsite during the storm restoration. The Jefferson City-based association represents all 47 of Missouri’s electric cooperatives. Learn more at www.amec.org.