Upshur Rural Electric update
URECC crews continue to work throughout the service area. URECC currently has gone from the original 47,000 with power to the current number of 15,316 without. Much of the work the crews are doing today are in some of the hardest hit areas, where broken and fallen trees lay twisted in the poles and lines, poles are having to be replaced, lines restrung, along with other construction. In many of the locations damage is worse than anticipated, and addition repairs are being required, too. This will add to the restoration times initially anticipated over the past weekend. Although different areas will continue to be restored each day, it is now believed that it will take until Friday to complete the last of the restorations. We understand this not what anyone wants to hear, but we must let people know so they can plan accordingly.
All crews are still working through the system as initially stated, from larger power lines through the phases of smaller power lines. One of the areas requiring the most repairs is around Lake O’ the Pines and the Lake O’ the Pines substation. Crews have been working the substation and transmission lines nearby since early Friday morning. In Hallsville there are still 2793 out. They have broken lines and poles throughout the area served by the Hallsville substation. The same is said for East Mountain. It has been a long hot day in the East Mountain area for the crews. Also, several areas around Diana look like very similar to the tornado damage that passed through just a was down Highway 154 just a couple of years ago.
The repairs remaining are numerous and as the crews work down the lines they are finding more. URECC has over 150 contract workers and the URECC staff working to make this restoration And we have 4 crews scheduled to arrive from West Texas later tomorrow (called the Blackout co.) bringing an estimated 24 more guys with them.
The last few days following the storm have been the hottest days this year, and these are the days so many have had to endure without power due to the devastation led by the Friday morning storms. One myth that has been brought to our attention that seems to be making its way through East Texas is that “the power grid collapsed”. This is absolutely untrue. The outages are widespread throughout URECC, SWEPCO, Oncore, Panola-Harris, Bowie-Cass, Wood County, Rusk County, and so many other co-ops and power companies strictly because of storm damage: lightning strikes, high winds, and falling trees. Mother nature overcame a man-made structure which now must be partially rebuilt. URECC and all the power companies are doing exactly that, as we speak, as quickly as they can.
Thanks to every workers out there restoring power we have ours now thank you so much