BARTOW, FL — Seven members of Bartow Electric, along with two additional lineworkers from the City of Fort Meade, have deployed to Florida’s Panhandle to assist with power restoration following Hurricane Isaias, according to the City of Bartow.
The Bartow crew departed Saturday, October 10, around 1:30 p.m. to assist CHELCO, an electric cooperative headquartered in DeFuniak Springs that serves Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, and Santa Rosa counties.
The seven Bartow Electric employees include Adam Vickers, Billy Leal, Bryce Culvahouse, Caden Dunlap, Seth Lamb, Johnny Aycock, and Anthony Franz. Joining them from Fort Meade are Kenny Holt and Klin Hernandez.
The crews are among approximately 700 lineworkers assisting with restoration efforts after the hurricane affected 45,000 customers. So far, they have helped restore electricity to thousands of customers in the rural communities of Holt and Baker in Okaloosa County.
Meanwhile, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office has deployed 46 deputies to assist with hurricane recovery operations. Deputies initially worked in Destin and Fort Walton Beach before being reassigned to Santa Rosa County, where additional assistance was needed. Polk County Fire Rescue personnel are also supporting recovery efforts.
Additionally, members of the Haines City Fire Department deployed Sunday, October 11, as part of an engine strike team assisting Escambia County. The team includes a firefighter/paramedic, a driver engineer/paramedic, and a captain/EMT. Their mission is to respond to emergency calls while local firefighters focus on hurricane recovery.
These deployments highlight the continued commitment of Polk County’s emergency responders and utility workers to helping communities recover from Hurricane Isaias.
SOURCE: CITY OF BARTOW
