Canadian Line Workers’ Gratitude for Gruelling Days Helping With Hurricane Outages
Stéphan Perreault and his team have been assisting in the power restoration efforts in North Carolina following Hurricane Helene’s impact in late September and they anticipate an extended stay.
They are part of the numerous Canadian line workers who have been called upon to help in rebuilding power grids after hurricanes Helene and Milton have plunged millions of Americans into darkness.
Perreault describes the challenges faced by the line workers as they operate 16 hours a day in the aftermath of Helene, dealing with washed-out roads and power grids decimated by the severe weather.
He recounts the heartbreaking scenes of homes swept away by water, cars buried in mud, and electrical grids completely destroyed. Despite witnessing immense devastation, including at least 227 deaths caused by Hurricane Helene, Perreault states that there have been no human casualties among their team, but they have encountered many difficult moments consoling distraught individuals who have lost their homes and pets.
Perreault mentions that their work in Asheville, N.C., was nearing completion when Hurricane Milton struck. He mentions that teams have begun moving towards northern Florida to aid in the aftermath of that storm, which initially left three million without power.
Hydro One from Ontario revealed sending an additional 50 workers to help with power restoration in Florida post-Milton, in addition to the 100 dispatched after Helene. Nova Scotia Power also sent about 35 personnel to Florida, stating the importance of mutual support during major storms.
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Perreault mentions that Gagnon Line Construction and Holland Power Service, the companies he represents, have over 700 personnel on the ground from various provinces, such as Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick. He notes that power companies like Hydro-Québec and local companies in Sherbrooke, Magog, Coaticook, and Jonquière have allowed their employees to join the U.S. relief effort.
Daniel Dumas from Quebec-based power line company EEA details the challenging living conditions faced by the North Carolina teams, sharing how they are stationed in trailers housing 16 people each and eat at a food tent in a makeshift camp while working long hours to rebuild the damaged grid.
Despite the difficulties, the Canadian crews are heartened by the warm reception from residents who treat them as heroes, offering food, coffee, and gratitude. Dumas recalls a touching moment when a preacher blessed their work truck.
Perreault also attests to the kindness shown in small gestures, including offers of ATVs, golf carts, snacks, and water from locals, along with restaurants swiftly providing meals for the hardworking crew.
Pierre Duval from Sproule Powerline in Ontario describes encountering scenes of flooding, downed power lines, and fallen trees on houses akin to what is seen on TV. Despite the challenging conditions, he notes that the heat is the most challenging aspect of the job during his two-week stay in the U.S., unsure of when he will return home.
Duval expresses uncertainty about their return timeline, emphasizing the three-day drive back home once they are released to leave the relief efforts.
