LIHU‘E — Two Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative linemen are headed to American Samoa to help restore power to the tsunami-ravaged island. Bobby Koteles and Jeremy McKelvy will be joined by more workers soon, said Jack Levitt, head of Transmission and
LIHU‘E — Two Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative linemen are headed to American Samoa to help restore power to the tsunami-ravaged island.
Bobby Koteles and Jeremy McKelvy will be joined by more workers soon, said Jack Levitt, head of Transmission and Distribution at KIUC.
Levitt was at the Lihu‘e Airport on Thursday to see the pair off on a flight to Pago Pago, where they will be assisting in efforts to restore power to American Samoa Power Authority customers.
“We are pleased that we can offer American Samoa assistance,” said Randy Hee, KIUC president and CEO, in a news release. “They (ASPA) are members of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association like we are and helping them is part of being a cooperative.”
If a member of the co-op community needs assistance, another co-op lends a land through prearranged Mutual Assistance Agreements that are acceptable to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Levitt said the hardest part was trying to figure out what kind of equipment and supplies are needed in American Samoa.
“These two are the front force,” Levitt said. “They’ll go down there to assess the damage and report back with how we can better help them. Hopefully, they’ll also get a chance to do some work while they are there.”
Koteles and McKelvy are scheduled to return in about a week.
“I’m very proud of our employees, many of whom have volunteered to assist ASPA in their recovery effort,” Hee said. “It was a difficult task deciding who would go. We are also making arrangements to send materials and equipment to them.”
Levitt said there were eight line people who stepped forward to volunteer, and deciding who would go was the most difficult task he faced.
“We let them decide among themselves, and these two men ended up going,” he said. “In addition, we’re sending some equipment through FEMA, so hopefully, the people we’re sending over get to use the equipment and when they return, they’ll leave the equipment.”
Among the items being sent over are four trucks that were scheduled to be retired.
“We’ll be sending more things once Koteles and McKelvy have an opportunity to survey and assess what is needed,” Levitt said.
Shelley Paik, the communications officer for KIUC, said the KIUC employees are also taking up a collection to help with the relief efforts in Samoa in the wake of the tsunami last week.
KIUC sent emergency supplies and employees to help restore power following Cyclone Heta in 2004, the release states.
