Eversource crews return to Connecticut after restoring power to Hurricane Helene victims

BERLIN, Conn. (WTNH) — Many parts of the south are still reeling from Hurricane Helene. Some Connecticut power crews just ended a week-long mission to help restore power in Virginia. News 8 spoke to them as they headed back to Connecticut.

Eversource crews have wrapped up a week of repairing Hurricane Helene’s damage in the hilly, rural, western part of Virginia. We spoke to manager Cayle Sargent from a hotel halfway back in Pennsylvania.

“We saw a significant amount of damage, both to the electrical infrastructure, roads, and bridges,” Sargent said.

That made it difficult for them to get where they needed to go. At one point, they had no choice but to wade through high-standing water.

“You know, we don’t want to trudge through the water if we don’t have to, but in that case, we’re going to do what we have to do,” Sargent said.

In the middle of all that destruction, crews found themselves staying in relative comfort.

“They actually put us up at a southwest Virginia 4-H camp, which is essentially a kids camp with bunkhouses and small living facilities,” Sargent said.

When they got there a week and a half ago, 100,000 customers of Appalachian Power were without power. That number is now down to less than 500. Crews met many appreciative people.

“A lot of gratitude, a lot of thanks, a lot of patience,” Sargent said. “Nobody was tapping their foot wondering when they were going to get the power on.”

With an even bigger storm now heading for Florida, News 8 asked if he and his crew were ready to turn around and do it again.

“Well, we can’t say we’re ready, our specific group, but there is a mutual aid program and Eversource and our affiliated utilities are part of that program,” Sargent said.

Eversource officials said it is engaged in talks about providing mutual aid after Milton makes landfall. Some of the contractors its crews were working with after Helene are already positioning themselves down south, so they’ll be ready to repair any damage Milton does.

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