Storm work
Preparation, repairs and safety precautions on the job
  Denny Lynn
YEC UNDERSTANDS
many members have been affected by
the recent storms
in our area. During Easter weekend, approximately 25% of our membership, across our entire
Trees, no matter their size, are one of the most common obstacles our crews face in a storm.
the electric distribution system stronger and better.
Why do some repairs take longer than others?
Lynn: Repairs that take longer are often due to the extent of the damages and
the problems of access to lines and facilities. Our employees are well trained and profificient in performing restoration in diffificult situations and challenging conditions, but these situations of extensive damage and diffificult access do extend restoration times occasionally.
Many people are involved when a storm hits. Can you describe the teamwork that takes place at YEC?
Lynn: Every department and every employee of YEC is actively involved in the restoration process after a major storm hits. We all have a pre- determined role that is part of the overall storm response plan. There is a great deal of support work that goes on behind the scenes, including food planning and preparations, answering
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YORK EXTRA
service territory, experienced an outage. This is the largest amount of damage
we have seen in more than 10 years. We appreciated your patience as we worked to make repairs, restoring power to all accounts by the next day. As our crews work to safely repair damages from severe weather, we want our members
to understand the work we do ahead of time to prepare and what it takes to get your lights back on. Vice President of Energy and Delivery Denny Lynn offers insight on storm work and life on the line.
What is the biggest challenge we face when we have a storm?
Lynn: We face many challenges during and after a storm. Challenges include staying safe in storm damaged working conditions and fifinding access through the damage to our facilities. Above all, we want to make sure our employees are protected and stay safe. There is
When storms cause widespread damage, YEC calls for help from other cooperatives. Likewise, we send our crews for help when our neighbors are in need.
also a struggle of balancing our strong desire to restore service quickly with ensuring the safety of our employees, making sure they receive proper rest and nutrition. It is also challenging
to determine how to best utilize our available YEC resources to best serve our members, as well as acquiring other assistance and resources from other cooperatives and contractors.
What precautions do we take to prevent storm damage?
Lynn: YEC is proactive in annual preventative maintenance on all aspects of the electric distribution system. From our aggressive right of way schedule, to maintenance and upgrades to facilities on all parts of our system, we always have storms and excellent service in mind. YEC stays on an annual maintenance process, constantly working to make
   Page 5 News Extra:
Turn to YEC’s News Extra to continue reading about our storm response and more about the Give 5 program.
SCLIVING.COOP | JUNE 2020 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING 5
ANDY JACKSON
SHANNON LITTLETON