A LONG CONVOY OF BUCKET TRUCKS AND OTHER MIDAMERICAN ENERGY VEHICLES LEFT THE DAVENPORT AREA WEDNESDAY MORNING, HEADED TO THE SOUTHEAST.
ABOUT 80 UTILITY WORKERS ARE INITIALLY DESTINED FOR ATLANTA, GEORGIA, WHERE THEY’LL BE ON STAND-BY UNTIL HURRICANE IAN COMES ASHORE ON FLORIDA’S GULF COAST.
MIDAMERICAN SPOKESWOMAN TINA HOFFMAN SAYS THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM IS READY TO GET THE LIGHTS BACK ON AFTER THE STORM KNOCKS THEM OUT.
IAN1 OC…….. “SOMEWHERE ELSE” :15
THE TEAM MEMBERS VOLUNTEERED FOR THE ASSIGNMENT AND WORK ACROSS MIDAMERICAN’S SERVICE AREA, WHICH INCLUDES IOWA, AS WELL AS PARTS OF ILLINOIS, SOUTH DAKOTA AND NEBRASKA.
IAN2 OC………HARDEST HIT” :20
FORECASTERS SAY THE MASSIVE STORM COULD BE UPGRADED TO THE HIGHEST STRENGTH, CATEGORY FIVE, BEFORE IT MAKES LANDFALL, AS SUSTAINED WINDS ARE EXCEEDING 150 MILES AN HOUR.
IAN3 OC………”DOWN SOUTH” :15
THE IOWA-BASED CREWS MAY BE GONE UP TO TWO WEEKS, DEPENDING ON THE DAMAGE.
