REMC lineman shares story (1/19/05)

My name is Ron Laux, a lineman for Jay County REMC. The intent of this letter is not to tell you how terrible it was working in such conditions as the ice storm. I have worked in other storms, but this is the first one of this severity that “hit home.”

Too often it has happened somewhere else, like it could never happen here. It is deeply appreciated to hear folks tell how much our efforts were appreciated, at the same time not understanding how one could work in such adverse conditions.

Restoration of power carries no exact method in a storm that removed service for most of the entire county. As we are dispatched to a certain area there is no blueprint on how to rebuild what has fallen. It is the crew that decides “how-to” best make the needed repairs, either permanent or temporary. At times one decides it best to move to another area so when wires become energized some of the more difficult tasks can be completed before the wires are “hot.” It is nearly impossible for one to understand how we do our work.

What is unfortunate is someone is first and someone will be last to have power restored. Storms the severity of this one is not the time to be concerned about how much food was lost, or the amount of water one had. No one guarantees service under these conditions; it takes hours and hours to find help that always has to travel a distance to aid in the restoration effort. The line people are like all of us who need food and rest. And while the decisions we make are not always popular ones we are also subject to making errors in our restoration efforts.

We are most appreciative that we had no electrical related accidents, including those who temporarily used generators. Now is the time for all of Jay County to be grateful for what has been completed, not to fault utilities.

Ron Laux

Portland

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