ComEd Crews Deployed to Assist in Historic Back-to-Back Hurricane Event
November 26, 2024
When a major power outage event happens anywhere across the country, electric companies deploy lineworkers and staff to help in restoration efforts, known as mutual assistance. Each trip presents its own unique challenges, but ComEd’s latest mutual assistance effort became one of the largest deployments in company history following back-to-back hurricane impacts across four southeastern states.
For about a month, nearly 350 lineworkers and supporting staff camped out across South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, and Florida to aid in the response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton – historic tropical storms in their own right. In all, over 9,000 miles were traveled to help restore power to more than 12,600 customers.
Meet some of the hardworking individuals from ComEd who led these deployments and who earned praise from the communities they helped across the Southeast.
Dan Kilcoyne, Libertyville Crew Leader in South Carolina
Dan had just returned from a mutual assistance trip in Texas when, in late September, was deployed again along with his crew to South Carolina following the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene. He and his crew stayed there for 12 days rebuilding and restoring power for area residents. “As far as storms go, the damage there was by far the worst I’ve ever seen.” Dan described trees, many of which were over 100 ft tall, that were uprooted by the cyclone, creating craters and destroying everything around them. “As we approach our destination, it always takes a second to acclimate to what you’re seeing and understand why you’re there, but once you arrive, you get to work.”
One of the first critical customers restored in South Carolina was a food pantry to allow the distribution of food for those in need, prompting the praise from local utility leaders. Dominion Energy CEO Robert Blue visited and said, “I just had to come and see the ComEd crews that everyone is talking so highly about!”
Communities embraced our teams and as a token of appreciation for all their hard work, rallied to provide a large thanksgiving meal for crews.
“When people show how grateful they are, it makes it all that more worthwhile,” said Dan.
Kevin Siebert, Highland Park Crew Leader in South Carolina and Florida
Florida kids’ snack bag and lemonade stand
Kevin and his crew served the Augusta, South Carolina, area for two weeks before traveling to Florida to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton’s landfall for another week and a half.
“I had never seen that kind of destruction,” said Kevin. “I’ve seen damage caused by high winds and snow but this was my first ever hurricane deployment and it’s a very different type of storm.” Kevin described the work they did as almost starting from scratch – pulling new wires, setting new poles, installing transformers, and running power service.
Though there’s lots of satisfaction in completing a project, there’s no greater sense of fulfillment than seeing people’s smiling faces when their power is back on. In Florida, families supported crews with heartfelt thank you cards and a lemonade and snack bag stand, while Chi Phi students at Auburn University donated energy drinks to keep our teams energized.
“Customers were super thankful and that only made us want to work harder,” recalled Kevin. “They took care of us and feeling how grateful people were made us double down in our efforts to get their lights turned on as soon as possible.”
Auburn students with donation
Many of ComEd’s lineworkers and staff deployed are parents or caregivers and taking time away from home can put a burden on the family. Nonetheless, ComEd crews are happy to answer the mutual assistance call several times a year.
In January, ComEd was recognized with the Emergency Assistance Award for its outstanding mutual assistance efforts in the Midwest following a 2023 summer storm. As a best-in-class utility, ComEd’s team is proud to serve more than nine million in the northern Illinois region and stands ready to support its neighbors near and far whenever needed.
