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Katrina tested our emergency response,
but cooperation got the job done
At this time last year, each of Mississippi’s 26 electric power associations were united in the largest power-restoration effort in their history after Hurricane Katrina swept Mississippi on Aug. 29.
The outage numbers were staggering, and without precedent. More than 500,000 meters served by electric power associations lost power. Nine electric power associations suffered a complete loss of power during the hurricane.
In Mississippi, high winds, tornadoes, falling trees and heavy rain left thousands of miles of power line in shambles, from the coast to the Tennessee line.
Electric power associations have carefully designed emergency work plans to speed response to power outages of any severity, so we were prepared to deal with the problems Katrina was expected to leave behind. But no one predicted the destruction to be as widespread as it was. Unlike most hurricanes, Katrina did not weaken significantly upon landfall; hurricane-force winds were recorded more than 150 miles inland as the storm tracked northward through the state.
One of the electric power associations’ most effective means of dealing with emergency situations is by working together cooperatively. Our “mutual aid” approach to power restoration speeds the work by concentrating crews and equipment where they are needed most. When a storm approaches, we begin coordinating crews and materials for quick dispatch to those electric power associations requesting help after the storm’s passage. When electric power associations in north Mississippi suffer outages due to an ice storm, for example, electric co-ops unaffected by the storm send help to restore service.
The same plan works for hurricane-related emergencies. But because Katrina left behind outages statewide, crews were needed for local restoration work before they could assist other electric power associations.
Electric power associations serving south and coastal Mississippians dealt with this turn of events by calling for help from electric co-ops outside the state. Co-ops in 21 states sent crews, trucks and other equipment to jump-start the rebuilding effort. More Mississippi crews joined the effort as the lights began coming back on in their own service areas.
With a skilled, dedicated work force of more than 12,000 crew members, electric power associations were able to restore power within three weeks to all meters capable of receiving it. (The restoration was first projected to take up to six weeks.)
Katrina was a catastrophe no one wants repeated. The storm challenged us (and all Mississippians) as we’ve never been challenged before. It also taught us a great deal.
Most of all, we learned that even in the face of overwhelming destruction, we have an emergency-response plan that works—and the cooperative attitude to get the job done safely and as quickly as possible.
PAST
EDITORIALS
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