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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — After helping restore power for thousands of Tampa residents, electric workers are now deploying north.
“It was just about a week ago when Tampa Electric called for help with Hurricane Helene and thousands of people responded to our call for help,” said TECO Spokesperson Cherie Jacobs. “Today, we’re returning the favor.”
More than 8,000 power poles were damaged when Hurricane Helene moved through Georgia.
Days later, more than 400,000 homes and businesses in that state are still in the dark.
“This is why I got into it,” TECO Apprentice Trey Holden said. “I mean this is the really rewarding part.”
Holden was one of more than 100 TECO workers deploying on what’s expected to be a two-week mission. They said they are more than willing to lend a helping hand in this time of need.
“I mean, we have our day-to-day jobs where it gets a little mundane but this is when it’s fun,” Holden said. “To go into a devastated area and get the power back on and you know the little kids are outside cheering and stuff, so it’s really rewarding.”
After two and half years with TECO, he believes this will be the biggest impact he’s made so far.
“I mean we can get up there and figure it out and pick up the pieces as we go but it sounds like basically just a lot of rebuilding everything from what I’m hearing,” Holden said.
Some of the TECO workers on this trip have only had a one-day break since Hurricane Helene hit last week. The break consisted of working an 8-hour shift instead of a 16-hour shift but the spirits were high this morning.
