JEA linemen head to Louisiana to help restore power after Hurricane Ida passes

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — When someone calls for help, JEA is ready to answer.

“Jacksonville has been on the receiving end of this kind of mutual aid support in the past after severe storms so we’re always honored to be able to serve, to do what we need to do to help other communities in times of need like this,” JEA spokesperson Karen McAllister said.

LINK: Ida live updates: Storm intensifies into major Category 4 hurricane

Sunday morning, more than 30 JEA trucks left Jacksonville to help our neighbors to the west as Category 4 Hurricane Ida rips through Louisiana.

JEA Electric Maintenance Coordinator Matthew Stafford said he expects the damage to be devastating.

“Poles down. Wire completely down. Damages to homes, damages to businesses. Flooded roads,” Stafford said.

Stafford said crews will stay overnight in Mobile, Alabama, into Monday. In the morning, they will assess the storm damage and figure out the safest way to get to Lafayette.

He said crew members are looking forward to lending a helping hand.

“You have to kind of get amped up because you’re going to be working long hours, 16-hour days. With a category four, you’re talking maybe two, three, four weeks at a time,” Stafford said.

Once Ida passes, JEA line workers will go out into the affected Louisiana communities and help them restore power as quickly as they can.

LINK: EXPLAINER: Ida similar to Katrina, but stronger, smaller

“Now you’re thinking we’re going to be setting poles and rebuilding their entire infrastructure possibly depending on how bad it hits where we’re going,” Stafford said.

JEA officials said they got the call just this weekend and had to be ready to go at a moment’s notice.

Stafford said he expects crews to be there at least two weeks. Anytime past then, they will rotate crews in and out.

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