BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – Hundreds of Alabama Power line workers and contractors are finally back home after spending more than a week in Texas restoring power to people impacted by Hurricane Beryl.
According to the source, now, 99% of CenterPoint Energy customers have their lights back on.
The storm ripped through the Caribbean and made landfall in Texas as a Category One hurricane two weeks ago, causing widespread flooding and power outages for more than two million people.
Anthony Cook with Alabama Power said there were downed trees and limbs, broken power poles, and wires – all of which had to be cleaned up and put together before turning on the lights.
Alabama Power’s 350 personnel, including 300 contractors, were finally released on Friday after working for 11 days straight.
Cook says in events like this, it’s all hands on deck. Utility companies from across the country come together for a common goal, and it’s all part of a network of mutual assistance.
“So there are times when we need assistance like last year during Hurricane Idalia,” said Cook.
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“We had utilities come in and help us restore power, and so this time, it was our turn to help out a partner and go out and help the customers in Texas get their power restored.”
Alabama Power says during the restoration effort, the team repaired and/or replaced 113 poles, 962 spans of wire, 83 transformers, 809 services, and 96 switches.