Crews from Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, Canada, Ontario, Quebec,

[Stinky The Clown]

Texas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, New Mexico(!), Georgia, North Carolina, Illinois, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, California, South Carolina, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Oregon, and, no doubt other states, have made the trek to the Mid Atlantic and Northeast, to help in power restoration.

Convoys of line crews and forestry crews, all with full trucks ready to work headed in from all directions.

If you get your power restored by an out of town crew, give them a special thanks.

Other industries called for out of town help, too. Chief among them were nuclear workers to keep safe watch over the many reactors in the danger zone.

We owe these folks a great deal.

[niyad]

1. when one is listening to the endless hatred spewing from the reichwingnuts, and other assorted

persons whose sole function seems to be sowing discontent and separation and anger, it is sometimes hard to remember that PEOPLE do care, and will always be there to help their neighbors.

I read somewhere that humans are hardwired to be helpful--and it isn't hard to see when something this major happens. It isn't hard to see even when smaller things happen. During and after waldo canyon, as we daily watched those incredible plumes of smoke and flame, the countless acts of kindness, of generousity, of helpfulness, were truly something to behold. I remind myself of that when it seems that all we hear about is the ugliness of the human race.

thank you for sharing this with us.

[freshwest]

3. +1

[Skittles]

13. CORRECT

[doublethink]

2. And who coordinated all this?

[Stinky The Clown]

5. The power companies, I'd expect, along with government.

There is a formal Mutual Aid agreement to which most power companies are party. I have no idea about the technicalities, but the basic idea is obvious. You help me when I'm in it too deep to handle, and I'll help you when the tables are turned.

[doublethink]

9. I heard President Obama earlier today refer to this ...

It was the Federal Government that coordinated it, mark my word.

[Stinky The Clown]

22. Sorry, but this has been going on for decades.

It is far from a new program.

[KT2000]

6. don't know who coordinated it

but this happens in every major disaster. I wonder if it isn't the unions.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. No, it's not the unions

Ultimate coordinating authority is the Federal Government under the authority of FEMA

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. It s part of mutual aid agreements

And federal plans... It is not that hard to comprehend. Power company employees enter a zone only when cleared by emergency services.

There are plans in place that are "wargames" regularly.

Short answer, FEMA.

[Le Taz Hot]

19. Governor Brown (CA) said FEMA requested

help from our state. Apparently they were very specific in their requests for personnel, equipment and expertise. So, to answer your question the Federal gummit -- you know that entity that is universally hated by the reich wing.

[Waltons_Mtn]

21. They use the Incident Command System.

In my job we use it regularly. It was created, mostly, by the forestry service, who use it to fight the big forest fires throughout the west. The U.S. Coast Guard decided they could use it to clean up oil spills. During Katrina, everything was one big cluster until the Coast Guard Admiral came in and set up a proper ICS. Then things started to turn around. This time FEMA set up a proper ICS and things sound like they are being handled well. ICS is a great system and can be set up to handle any size situation. You just need to staff it properly, with people trained to use ICS. The Planning Section will take the reports and set up a plan to coordinate relief efforts. The Operations section will carry out that plan. The Logistics section will make sure that the right equipment gets to where it needs to be and the Finance section will keep track of all the costs.

[justiceischeap]

23. In Maryland, our Governor put in an "order" for extra crews

about 3 days before the storm was due to hit. That happens as part of the process. Whomever gets their "orders" in first, actually get the extra help. If your state gov't. is slow off the draw, you get the leftovers, if there are any. That's what happened to us this past summer when we had the derecho, O'Malley didn't ask quickly enough, so it took longer to get power to customers in MD.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Yup, L-4 disaster

I love it when a good plan comes together.

[Rowdyboy]

7. Those guys absolutely rock in my book....its dangerous, hard and they're far away

from their families and homes. When Katrina knocked us out a few years ago, linemen came from all over the country. I'm glad that our guys are now repaying the favor.

[Tx4obama]

8. When Ike hit Texas hundreds of crews came in from out of state ...

... one of their main staging sites was the Sam Houston Horse Race Park (huge parking lot) about a mile or so away.

It was amazing.

If I remember correctly we had over two million homes without power, and all the help from out of state was much appreciated.


p.s. Even though I was located near their staging site we didn't get electricity on my side of the street for almost two weeks.

[otohara]

11. 35 Workers From CO Excel Energy

left yesterday!

[appleannie1]

14. There were convoys of electric trucks heading east on I-80 the day before it even hit.

[ProudProgressiveNow]

15. America a its best. nt

[Surya Gayatri]

16. This has nothing to do with being "American" or any other nationality

for that matter. It's all to do with being a member in good standing of the human race.

This is what humans do--they help each other. From the dawn of human history, the tribe could only survive if its individual elements strived together.

Humans are hard wired to help. Altruism is in our DNA.

[Blue Gardener]

17. Iowa got a lot of help after a huge ice storm

Several years back. It's what you do, return the help when needed.

[Le Taz Hot]

18. When Mitt Romney said disaster relief

should be left up to the states I don't think this is what he meant. It's times like this we show that we truly ARE the UNITED States of America.

[MadrasT]

20. Just saw crews from Louisiana in Philly

Thank you, my southern friends.

[Jennicut]

24. Lots of out of state crews in Connecticut.

Per my husband, who works for Yankee Gas (which is sister companies with Connecticut Light and Power). He is spending Halloween night not trick or treating with our kids. He is sitting in his truck by downed wires. Someone has to do it for public safety so while I will miss him, I am glad we have people out there doing this.

[Tsiyu]

25. Paid at the electric co-op today and yes

They sent crews from Tennessee.

No North. No South.

Just doing what needs to be done because people are in need.