Winter Storm! IAMU's Mutual Aid Program Responds, Utilities Receive Recognition

IAMU's Mutual Aid Program Responds
 

First the ice and snow fell. Then the tree limbs. Then the electric lines. But as communities across a wide swath of Iowa were plunged into darkness during the recent winter storm, for some IAMU members the wheels were already in motion to get help where it was needed most. The most significant winter storm to hit the state in many years was a true test of the system of networking and cooperation between IAMU member cities and utilities known as the IAMU mutual aid program. And the program worked.
 

Ask Pat Stief, General Manager of Traer Municipal Utilities. Traer was one of a number of cities across east central Iowa that were hardest hit by the storm. "By mid-afternoon Saturday we were experiencing a large number of customers without power. We had seven or eight poles broken off at that time along with a stretch of rural line about three miles long that had come down," said Stief. "Before the bad weather stopped, we had roughly five miles of line on the ground and 21 poles broken."

"By about 5 p.m. Saturday, it became obvious we were going to need assistance. I made a few calls locally, but the problem was widespread enough that local help was not available." At that point, Stief turned to the IAMU mutual aid program.

By mid-day Sunday, trucks, equipment and personnel from Maquoketa Municipal Utilities, more than 100 miles to the east, were on the way to Traer, arranged by the mutual aid program. Wilton Municipal Light & Power, in far eastern Iowa, upon learning of Traer’s plight, made arrangements to take them additional wire (Wilton’s spirit of generosity also extended beyond IAMU members, as the utility also assisted rural electric cooperatives and investor-owned utilities in need of help). In the meantime, Traer officials also made assistance arrangements with Independence Municipal Utilities, which is part of the same mutual aid region. By mid-afternoon on Sunday, many hands were at work restoring a three-mile stretch of downed wire. Cedar Falls Utilities, also hard hit by the storm, sent equipment and a crew to Traer on Tuesday, after restoring power to all of their own customers. All visiting crews stayed in Traer until Tuesday evening, restoring power to the vast majority of 200-plus customers by that time.

"This was all done in three days’ time," said Stief. "If we had to go it alone, it would have taken us weeks to accomplish this. I can’t say enough about the good help we received, and the manner in which it was arranged with the IAMU mutual aid program. I hope our simple thank yous will suffice until one day when we can return the favor."

Traer was not alone in benefiting from the IAMU mutual aid program. As the degree of damage around the state became apparent immediately following the storm, IAMU representatives quickly began telephoning every city in the affected areas to inquire about conditions and the need for assistance. The primary goal was to determine which cities had no power. From an initial 63 cities contacted, the list was narrowed to 19 communities that had serious power problems. IAMU was also included in daily conference calls by Governor Culver’s office to monitor cities in need and the ongoing recovery efforts.

At the aforementioned Cedar Falls Utilities (CFU), it was story of two different roles: Self-help, followed by help for others. Dan Goetz, CFU’s Distribution Services Manager, was initially faced with the task of coordinating a return of electrical service to his own customers. "We had as many as 10,000 customers with power out as of that Saturday," said Goetz. "That day, we were looking for help. But then again, so was everybody else. We determined that we had the resources to do it ourselves. We worked 16 hours straight on Saturday, got a little sleep, and worked another 16 hours on Sunday."

The CFU effort was a study in teamwork and planning from within its own ranks, and bears singling out as an example. "We had people from all different areas of CFU all working together," said Goetz. "We had water employees, communication employees, gas employees, and garage employees all out helping and working together as teams." Goetz said they would place one electric line specialist with employees from other departments to compose the teams of workers. Goetz reported that to keep pole replacement moving swiftly crews loaded poles onto trucks, fueled and prepared the trucks overnight on Saturday, so when crews reported back on Sunday morning, all they had to do was start the trucks and head out.

At last count, CFU lost 55 poles to the storm; but once power had been restored to its own customers, officials quickly turned their attention to helping others, through IAMU’s mutual aid program. One of the first systems to get help was Traer. Goetz explained, "Many years ago, Cedar Falls had a three-day ice storm to deal with. Traer sent help to us back then – now it was time to repay the favor." A three-person crew was sent to Traer. Another CFU crew was sent to nearby Denver. A third crew went to Butler County to help with rural electric cooperative recovery efforts there.

In southeast Iowa, the IAMU mutual aid program helped the community of Danville return its electric system to normal status. A few years ago, the city installed an underground line that connected to the generator in nearby New London – a move that was a cost-saving measure for electric distribution – but proved valuable following the winter storm. "If not for spending the money to do that, we would have had some big problems getting power restored quickly" said City Clerk Sue Rogers. "Thank goodness for the forward-thinking individuals who put that through."

But Danville still needed broken poles and downed overhead lines replaced. Nearby Mount Pleasant had recovery work of its own to do, so could not immediately send personnel or equipment to Danville. But through the IAMU mutual aid network, personnel from Tipton Municipal Utilities were mobilized and responded to Danville. They coordinated the replacement of poles and transformers and checked home connections. In the meantime, Mount Pleasant was later able to send a three-person crew to Danville to set new poles. New London also contributed a bucket truck. It was truly a team effort, and one the Danville officials were grateful for. "Bless all of their hearts," said Rogers. "We don’t own even a bucket truck of our own, so we really needed the help of others." She added, "Collin Proctor is calling every day to check on us. So are Dave Hraha, Eric Stoll and Melody Taninies at IAMU. It’s really good to know there are people out there who care when you have a problem."

IAMU consistently looks for ways to best serve its member cities and utilities, and the mutual aid program is a strong example. The program has often proven its worth, and IAMU representatives feel it did so with flying colors in this instance. "IAMU members need to know that this program is here for them – whether they operate an electric, gas or telecommunication utility – and help is often just a phone call away," said Dave Hraha, IAMU Program Manager. "The program will find you the help you need, whether it’s just down the road or maybe several counties away from you. It’s sort of like neighbor helping neighbor – but in this case, it’s utility helping utility."

"Our mutual aid coordinators in all the various regions do an outstanding job of responding at a moment’s notice, any time, any day of the year," said Eric Stoll, IAMU Electric Services Coordinator. "The program would not work without their hard work and dedication."

The IAMU mutual aid program is here for you. If you would like more information about the program, contact Dave Hraha at IAMU, 800/810-4268 or dhraha@iamu.org, or consult the Mutual Aid section of the IAMU Directory.

Utilities Receive Recognition

On Wednesday March 28, Iowa’s electric utility workers were honored at the Capital in Des Moines.  Senate Resolution 28 introduced by Majority Leader Senator Mike Gronstal and Minority Leader Senator Mary Lundby and House Resolution 34 introduced by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and House Minority Leader Christopher Rants recognized the efforts of the men and women who worked so hard to restore electricity to Iowans during the late February winter storms.  Following recognition in both the Senate and the House, the honorees were invited to the Governor’s office to be personally thanked by Governor Chet Culver and Lt. Governor Patty Judge.

The recognition came with short notice so many of our utility members weren’t able to attend but on the behalf of all municipal line mechanics, crews, and staffs the following people attended the ceremony: IAMU Board of Director member Darrel Wenzel, Independence, Jane Riessen, IAMU Legal Counsel, Julie Smith, IAMU Legislative Counsel, and Dave Hraha, IAMU Program Manager. (See attached photo.)

 
A Resolution to thank the men and women who worked so long and so hard to restore electricity to Iowans throughout the state:

Pictured from the left: Lt. Governor, Patty Judge,  Dave Hraha, Governor, Chet Culver, Darrel Wenzel, Jane Riessen, Julie Smith.