GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) — More than two dozen Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) workers hit the road Wednesday morning to assist Florida utilities as Hurricane Milton bears down on the state.
The crews are responding to a call for help as Florida utilities prepare for power outages and storm damage. Matt Cullen with WPS said the linemen train for this work, but they volunteered to serve the Florida communities.
“We see it often here in Wisconsin, where they’re dedicated to restoring power to the homes and businesses that we serve,” Cullen said. “So these employees did volunteer to be part of this restoration effort, and it really speaks to their character and dedication.”
It’s dedicated workers like J.D. Ellis, a journeyman lineman, who help victims rebuild their lives after disasters like Hurricane Milton.
“This will be my third one. We went to Superstorm Sandy, this one, and then Irma,” Ellis explained. “You see so many other utility trucks and tree-trimming crews heading in that direction, so you realize that you’re a small part of a huge operation, and you just try to do your best.”
Although lineman Todd Schoepke has worked with WPS for 28 years, he said he has never encountered a hurricane zone. Nevertheless, he feels prepared and ready to get to work.
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“You see all the devastation and the pain and suffering, but that’s what us linemen do,” Schoepke stated. “We weren’t expecting anything like this because the one that just went through last week was more than most people thought it would be, so I don’t know what this one will bring, but we’re good at handling anything we jump into.”
Crew members said they don’t know what to expect as they get closer to Florida, but they’re prepared to work 16 or more hours a day for two or more weeks to restore power and clear storm damage.
