“My grandmother lives in Houston, and I can’t help her right now, but I can help this lady,” said Brian Heard, a Sam Houston Electric Cooperative lineman. “I like knowing I can help get her power back today.”
Heard was reconnecting Patsy Denson’s line to her home in 90-degree heat on FM 945 in San Jacinto County after she had been without power for six days following Hurricane Beryl. Heard said Miss Denson was about the same age as his grandmother, and he felt good being able to help her.
Concern for Community is one of the Seven Cooperative Principles, which guide all cooperatives and set co-ops apart from other electric utility providers.
Co-ops from throughout Texas showed Concern for Community extends beyond their own service area after the hurricane. Crews from six Texas electric co-ops and one co-op from Arkansas provided mutual aid to get the lights and air conditioners back on after the hurricane.
Cooperation Among Cooperatives is another cooperative principle. Those co-ops providing mutual aid sent crews and equipment to help restore power as soon as wind speeds lowered to safe working levels. Restoration of the 81,500 meters that were without power began immediately.
Additional linemen and equipment from the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas arrived just a day later. They quickly joined the restoration fight and replaced several concrete and metal poles near Willis.
Sam Houston EC brought in more than 900 additional linemen and tree clearing crews to restore the safe flow of electricity as fast as possible. All crews were led by Sam Houston EC linemen, utility designers, utility coordinators, and substation and meter shop personnel. Sam Houston EC linemen were not just leading crews but also active participants in the restoration process.
Livingston lineman Josh Munson celebrated his 18th year at the Co-op during the middle of the restoration process, back in the Coldspring service area where he first started.
“I still remember a job when I drive down the road, years later,” Munson said. “I don’t work in [Coldspring] anymore, but I still remember the members there, even if I haven’t seen them in more than a decade.”
Hurricane Beryl is Heard’s first hurricane restoration process, but it’s not the first for Munson. He had been a lineman for two years when Hurricane Ike hit in 2008, and he shares his experience to help new linemen make the process better, for members and linemen.
“I tell the newer linemen, before you are done for the day, hook up one meter on your way in,” Munson said. “That member will remember you and what you did for them. They will smile, and their smile is what will get you through the next long day of restoration, until you help another member.”
