LOUISVILLE, Ky. (LEX 18) – A southern shift in the forecasted path of Hurricane Florence may change the planned destination for 160 Kentucky electric cooperative lineworkers set to be deployed this weekend.
Through a careful coordination of mutual aid from co-ops in 12 states across the Midwest and Southeast, crews from 19 Kentucky co-ops are paired with co-ops in the storm’s path. On daily conference calls, safety teams from each state assess optimal deployments.
The storm was originally forecast to make landfall early Friday and head north. The latest forecast is for Hurricane Florence to stall after making landfall late Friday on the Carolina coasts. The new trajectory could bring several feet of rain.
With the changes in the forecast, the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives is preparing to adjust deployments accordingly, including a possible shift of Kentucky crew assignments from Virginia to South Carolina. The construction crews, service crews and support staff are expected to deploy as early as Saturday morning.
In addition to co-op employees, Kentucky co-ops have already released dozens of construction and right-of-way contract crews to respond to Hurricane Florence.
The list of Kentucky electric cooperatives set to deploy lineworkers includes Blue Grass Energy, Clark Energy Cooperative, Cumberland Valley RECC, Farmers RECC, Fleming Mason Energy, Jackson Energy Cooperative, Jackson Purchase Energy Corporation, Kenergy Corp., Licking Valley RECC, Meade County RECC, Nolin RECC, Owen Electric Cooperative, Pennyrile Electric, Salt River Electric, Shelby Energy Cooperative, South Kentucky RECC, Tri-County EMC, Warren RECC, and West Kentucky RECC.
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