Roanoke Cooperative’s line technicians continue their work in the Blue Ridge Energy service area, pushing through 16-hour days to help restore power. Each day starts with breakfast and a briefing about the challenges ahead, often involving tough terrain and long hours. In some cases, bulldozers have had to pull our large bucket trucks through the mud. Despite these obstacles, our crew’s dedication remains unwavering.
The team has shared how incredibly supportive Blue Ridge Energy and their members have been. Jamie Elliott, Line Technician Supervisor, noted, “Blue Ridge has been really good to us! It makes you want to work even harder and longer to get the lights back on for their members, no matter how bad or hard the job may be. We’ve shared stories with the people here, and it feels like we’ve been friends since childhood.”
As of today, Blue Ridge Energy has made significant progress. While just over 20,000 members are still without power, that number is down from over 60,000 when our crew first arrived. This progress reflects the hard work of everyone involved, including our line technicians.
Despite the personal losses many members have endured, their gratitude has been truly uplifting. Fleet Operations Coordinator John Turner shared, “Blue Ridge has been amazing to work with. Even after losing so much, their members have been incredibly appreciative of our efforts. They’ve brought us drinks and snacks, despite everything they’ve gone through, which really shows how much our work means to them.”
We are so proud of our team’s efforts, and every supportive message and prayer from our member-owners as well as others including Blue Ridge Energy’s members, has been shared with them. They feel the love, and it helps them through these long days. While the job isn’t over yet, we eagerly anticipate their safe return, knowing they’ve made a huge impact in the Blue Ridge area.
Be sure to check out the photos to see our crew in action, persevering through the challenging conditions as they work tirelessly to restore power.
