Third “100-Year Storm” Creates Islands-Wide Work Parties

The third 100-year storm in two years caused power outages for two-to-four weeks.

Staff member Beth Anderson recalled, “Hurricane-force winds whipped trees in all directions.  Trees and power poles were littering the ground throughout the islands; people had to literally cut their way out of driveways and along roadways.”

General Manager Doug Bechtel wrote:

“…Dozens of members showed up at OPALCO offices with chain saws ready to help, retired employees came back to help, and volunteers pitched in to keep the linemen fed—including a special turkey dinner on Christmas Day. The off-island crews who came to help said that they had never been to a place where people were nicer or appreciated their efforts more.”