SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO) — Nebraska is still recovering from that major winter storm that rocked the eastern half of the state a week and a half ago.
Heavy wet snow and strong winds took down hundreds of power poles in and around the Omaha area.
They’re slowly getting customers back online thanks in part to out of state crews, including some from South Dakota.
Crews from Sioux Valley Energy left one week ago in a long convoy under sunny skies,
“We sent a total of eight from Sioux Valley Energy,” director of operations Chris Graff said.
But that nice weather would soon be overshadowed by what they were about to face.
“For the first couple of days it was knee deep mud in the fields and roads were all torn up getting around was a little tough,” journey lineman Josh Entzel said.
The eastern half of Nebraska was hit hard by snow, ice, and strong winds; toppling power pole after power pole.
“They don’t have an exact number, but they’re estimating around 700 poles that had broken off and down on the ground down there,”
And that was just in the Omaha area.
The linemen who were down there say the people in Nebraska were very appreciative.
“They were amazing, they were really cool, every where you went they’d say we appreciate you, we thank you; one guy pulled me over I thought there was some sort of an emergency, but he pulled me over to just say thanks,” Entzel said.
They also provided the linemen with coolers full of food and drinks. A volunteer effort of neighbors helping neighbors.
“Just like anybody we’re susceptible to these events as well, we’ve had the benefit of having others come up and help us in the past and we really want to push that with others, one of our main principles is cooperation amongst cooperatives, so that’s what we really try and do, there are others in need, so we want to offer those crews and help out where we can,” Graff said.
Other crews from South Dakota include; Southeastern Electric, Central Electric, Douglas, and East River Electric Cooperatives.
