Irma’s Historical Track August 30 – September 12, 2017
Data provided by the National Hurricane Center
We sent 14 crews with each crew comprised of 4 members, a general foreman, an administrative assistant, a mechanic, and a safety supervisor totaling a staff of 65 people.
The full range of electric power contractor equipment deployed totaled 74 pieces and provided the Ward Electric team complete resources to restore electric power in Florida after Hurricane Irma made landfall.
Ward Electric Company, an electric power contractor headquartered in Northern Colorado, embarked on a trek across the United States. Duration of the trip from northern Colorado to the heart of Florida was approximately 2 days.
Because of the prescribed resident safety evacuations required prior to the hurricane, lodging and accommodations were a challenge.
The caravan of Ward Electric Company crews and the electric power contract equipment was spread out across the states of Alabama, Georgia and even as far north as Tennessee, ready and waiting until it was safe to continue south to Florida.
Tampa and Lakeland were the focus of the Ward Electric Company electric power restoration efforts.
Hurricane Irma caused 60% more debris than the previous 3 hurricanes combined. This volume of debris presented accessibility challenges.
For the two weeks of electric power recovery work, the temperature averaged 87° with 96% humidity.
But the crews were successful in safely restoring electric power to these Florida communities on the heels of a record-breaking hurricane.
Lakeland City Spokesman, Kevin Cook said, “We are extremely grateful for assistance from the out-of-state crews that have been working with Lakeland Electric.
They have helped immeasurably in Lakeland’s electric power recovery.”