ElectriCities Members Show the Strength of Mutual Aid After Hurricane Helene

Hurricane Helene heavily impacted ElectriCities member communities in western North Carolina and South Carolina. In the wake of the destruction, other ElectriCities members across North Carolina rose to the occasion and traveled to hard-hit areas to get the power back on.

ElectriCities is the membership organization that provides power supply and related critical services to over 90 community-owned electric systems in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia—collectively known as public power. Through a network of mutual aid, ElectriCities member utilities send their linecrews, trucks, supplies, and equipment to assist communities when disaster strikes, and the power goes out.

At the peak of outages from Helene, about 48,000 public power customers in North Carolina were without electricity. After five days, ElectriCities member linecrews had reduced that number to about 10,000. Six days later, major restoration efforts in ElectriCities’ North Carolina member communities were complete.

That swift response is thanks to monumental efforts from lineworkers and public power staff across ElectriCities membership—public power communities that requested help for their customers and those that provided mutual aid by sending approximately 30 crews, along with equipment and materials.

“Thankfully, power was restored both quickly and safely. No ElectriCities member crews reported any lineworker injuries,” said Nick Whitley, Mutual Aid Coordinator and Supervisor of Safety and Training at ElectriCities. “Just like any good linecrew, public power communities worked together to do what needs to be done.”

Getting the lights back after Hurricane Helene took hard work and dedication from first responders and neighbors near and far, including lineworkers, customer service representatives, and other utility staff.

“It was a heavy lift that required a lot of people working together, but many hands made light work,” said Craig Batchelor, Manager of Safety and Training at ElectriCities. “We appreciate everyone who assisted with mutual aid.”

As hurricane season barreled on, public power communities continued to provide mutual aid. When Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene hit, ElectriCities members were there to support public power neighbors farther south.

“We were in the midst of wrapping up one and had to head into another,” said Batchelor.

Whatever the storm, public power communities are ready to support one another through the strength of mutual aid.

ElectriCities thanks the communities that provided and received mutual aid.

Communities that Provided Mutual Aid After Hurricane Helene:

Albemarle
Apex
Clayton
Concord
Fayetteville PWC
Gastonia
Greenville Utilities Commission
High Point
Kinston
Lexington
Lumberton
Monroe
New Bern
Newton
Rocky Mount
Statesville
Tarboro
Wake Forest
Washington
Wilson Energy

Communities that Received Mutual Aid After Hurricane Helene:

Abbeville, S.C.
Cherryville
Drexel
Easley, S.C.
Forest City
Greenwood, S.C.
Kings Mountain
Laurens, S.C.
Morganton
New River Light & Power (Boone)
Newberry, S.C.
Prosperity, S.C.
Shelby