Power restoration efforts in Baldwin County continue (Sept. 19, 2020)

Requested crews have arrived at Baldwin EMC, the rural electric cooperative serving more than 80,000 accounts in Baldwin and Monroe counties. More than 650 workers from 12 states and 80 co-ops are are on the ground to restore power to the areas hit hard by Hurricane Sally.

As of 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, the co-op has outages of 63,883; after the storm, 100 percent of the co-op’s members were out of power. Due to the widespread damage, the co-op expects extended outages in some areas, and continues to ask for members’ patience as the work continues.

Alabama cooperatives had also been working to help their sister co-op, Southern Pine EC, based in Brewton, which is now fully restored. 

Baldwin EMC’s employees, who have been working non-stop since the storm, distributed free ice to the community on Saturday at three local schools. It’s yet another example of one of the seven cooperative principles, concern for community, at work. 

The Alabama Rural Electric Association (AREA) has been coordinating this massive mutual aid effort, matching volunteer crews with the areas that need their help. Safety staffers from AREA are also on site as the crews work to safely restore service.