Hurricane Helene

Wiregrass Electric Cooperative (WEC) Lineworkers Assist Georgia Co-Op in Poststorm Recovery

When Hurricane Helene made landfall on September 26 as a powerful Category 4 storm, it left devastation in its wake. As it surged across the Southeast, Helene claimed the lives of 227 people across 6 states, tearing apart communities and even hammering mountain towns hundreds of miles from where it first made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast. It swept away homes, destroyed roads, and knocked out power and cell service for millions.

Initially, forecasts projected that the Wiregrass area would take a direct hit, and WEC had sister cooperatives on standby to assist in recovery efforts. But as the storm’s path shifted eastward, those cooperatives turned their focus to other hard-hit areas. WEC did the same, sending its own lineworkers to assist Little Ocmulgee EMC, or LOEMC, in Alamo, Georgia.

“Every cooperative in the region was prepared to jump into action, whether in their own backyard or in neighboring communities,” WEC CEO Brad Kimbro says. “When we realized the Wiregrass was spared, our focus shifted to those who needed the help most. Just as other cooperatives would’ve been here for us, we were proud to send our crews to Georgia to support LOEMC in their time of need.”

In the days following the storm, Wiregrass Electric Cooperative sent 2 crews to help restore power in Georgia, where the impact of Helene on the electric grid was severe.

In the immediate aftermath of Helene, 97% of LOEMC members were without power. WEC’s first six-member crew arrived on September 27, followed by another crew on October 3, joining more than 500 personnel from other sister cooperatives. They faced extensive damage — downed trees, toppled poles, and tangled lines that required full rebuilds. Together, these crews worked tirelessly, helping reduce outages from 97% to 55% within the first week.

The restoration process was slow going in some areas, as crews worked to rebuild LOEMC’s system piece by piece. Linework is never easy, and rebuilding entire stretches of the system that took 80 years to construct is an even greater challenge. Yet, WEC linemen, alongside hundreds of others, remained committed to the task. These efforts have allowed LOEMC to reconnect the majority of its members, even though the hardest-hit areas faced delays as poles were replaced and distribution lines reconstructed.

Linework demands skill, commitment, and a heart for service — qualities WEC linemen displayed fully in their time away from home. They faced hazardous conditions head-on, leaving the comfort and safety of their families to help another community in need. And they did so not just to restore power, but to bring a sense of normalcy and hope back to lives disrupted by this catastrophic storm.

“The linemen who came to our rescue truly deserve all the thanks that our community has shown these past 2 weeks,” a statement from LOEMC reads. “We are proud of the heartfelt stories we have heard about what you have done for them while they were working with us! We all will be stronger because of this journey!”

The strength of LOEMC’s community has been remarkable throughout the recovery. Families, churches, and local organizations came together to support the crews, offering meals and shelter, showing true neighborly spirit even as they navigated their own losses. This mutual support is a powerful reminder of what it means to be part of a cooperative family.

As WEC’s linemen returned home safely, the cooperative reflected on the strength and resilience of our team and the communities they served. Their dedication and support of neighbors reinforces that together, cooperatives are stronger — and always ready to lift each other up when it matters most.