JEA employees head west to help with Hurricane Laura recovery efforts

JEA is sending 31 employees and 35 pieces of equipment, including trailers, to help with power restoration once Hurricane Laura passes through Louisiana.

The utility says electric crews are traveling to Lafayette, Louisiana to assist Lafayette Utilities.

“We’ll be staying put in Pensacola until we get the all clear and it’s safe for us to roll,” says Chris Richardson, a foreman with JEA.

Richardson says the electric business is like a family, but when storms hit it really brings that family closer.

“We pay a whole lot more attention to each other to make sure everybody comes home the way they left,” Richardson says.

JEA says there are four six-person crews, two coordinators, a manager and four fleet personnel.

Helping out for this storm will be a little different because of the coronavirus. JEA says they’ll be wearing masks and social distancing as much as possible. The vehicles and equipment will be sanitized daily as well.

Cox Media Group