PG&E dispatches over 400 crews to Georgia for Hurricane Helene relief efforts
OAKLAND, Calif. (KION-TV) -- PG&E announced Thursday that they are sending over 400 crews to Georgia for power repair and restoration efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
They said that the decision comes as part of a nationwide effort to assist the region, and that they will join 50,000 utility workers to help restore power to tens of thousands of customers.
The crews are scheduled to leave from Sacramento Airport on Friday, while 300 PG&E trucks have already started transportation to Georgia last Wednesday from PG&E’s Davis Service Center.
“It’s heartbreaking to see the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene," Peter Kenny, PG&E’s Senior Vice President of Electric Operations, said. "I am so thankful for our PG&E coworkers – serving those in need in Georgia and those continuing to serve our hometowns here in California.”
Hurricane Helene moved over Georgia, North and South Carolina as well as Tennessee as a Category 4 storm. It made landfall in Florida on September 26 and caused extensive flooding, tornadoes and rainfall, accounting for more than 190 deaths with hundreds of people missing. PG&E says that the hurricane is on record as the second deadliest hurricane to strike the continental United States in 50 years.
"When the chips are down, we start our crews and blue trucks rolling to help," said said Angie Gibson, PG&E’s Vice President of Emergency Preparedness & Response. "And other companies do the same for us when we need assistance.”
As of 12 p.m. Thursday, over 900,000 customers were without power in Georgia as well as North and South Carolina.
"In total, Helene impacted nearly 6 million electric customers in 10 states," according to PG&E. "As of Wednesday afternoon, power has been restored to approximately 4.51 million customers—or 75.1 percent of customers, EEI said."
