Flippin' the Switch
Flippin' the Switch
S5 E11: Restoring Power and Hope from the Front Lines of Hurricane Helene
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What does it take to restore power in the aftermath of a hurricane? Join us on a heartfelt journey with seasoned linemen Lawrence Rochelle and Eric Brown as they share their gripping experiences from the front lines of disaster recovery in Western North Carolina. With over 50 years of combined expertise, these linemen reveal the meticulous preparation and intense teamwork required to tackle the chaos left by Hurricane Helene. Discover firsthand the physical and emotional hurdles they and their families face, and how they embody the cooperative spirit of working together for the greater good. Tune in for a deep dive into resilience, perseverance, and the profound impact of community support.
Run Time: 24 minutes
Cooperative Linemen Assist With Hurricane Restoration
Speaker 1Welcome listeners to another episode of Flippin' the Switch . Our cooperative and its members are no strangers to storms living in coastal North Carolina . When Hurricane Helene moved through Western Carolina , our linemen knew we needed to lend a helping hand . As a co-op , we sent a small group of men out west to make a difference and turn the lights back on for those in need . Lawrence , rochelle and Eric Brown share their stories journeying through the mountains and joining forces with other co-ops to lend a helping hand . This episode is sure to put into perspective how lucky we are to be part of such a strong cooperative community reaching beyond our service territory . And with that , let's start flipping the switch reaching beyond our service territory . And with that , let's start flipping the switch .
Speaker 2I'm really excited about this month's podcast . It's going to be really great . Not that they all aren't great , but this one may tug at your heartstrings a bit and it may make you appreciate a bit more of what Lyman and their families have to go through at times to restore power after an outage . Today we're talking to two of approximately 35 JOMC employees that went to Western North Carolina to assist with the power restoration caused by Hurricane Helene in late September . Lawrence Rochelle he started the co-op about 33 years ago . He was an apprentice lineman . He worked his way up to various crew form positions and now is line projects manager . And then Eric Brown he's coming up on 21 years here at the co op . He started first as a meter reader . He became an apprentice lineman . He worked his way up to lead lineman and then to construction crew foreman and now a conversion crew foreman . The two of you together have over 50 years of experience in the field . That's a lot of hands-on experience and knowledge . So welcome to both of you .
Speaker 3Thank you , thank you .
Speaker 2We appreciate you taking your time out of your day to talk about your recent experience assisting fellow electric cooperative French Fraud EMC with getting their power back on for all of their 42,000 members . I mean , just think about that for a moment . Their entire service territory was in the dark . That's a lot of power that needs to be restored . I mean , imagine if all of Jacksonville was completely in the dark . Co-ops are guided by seven cooperative principles . One of these is cooperation among cooperatives . This principle emphasizes the importance of working together to achieve common goals . When French Broad EMC needed our assistance , we were more than happy to lend a hand , embodying the true spirit of cooperative collaboration . So , lawrence and Eric , a storm is coming and we pretty much know that one of our sister co-ops is going to need help correct .
Speaker 3For the most part , yes ma'am Okay .
Speaker 2So how are our linemen selected to go help ?
Speaker 4It all depends on what crew they are on that time . Sometimes the co-ops we're going to help might need just line crews or they might need just service maintenance crews .
Speaker 3It depends on workload at our co-op as well and , like Lawrence said , how many people they actually need crews . Some crews are set up different , with bigger equipment than others , so who's on call in our area right now at home ?
Speaker 2And probably what projects .
Speaker 3There's a lot of thought and process that goes into it . Now , if everybody wanted to volunteer , you'd have everybody go at one time , but that's just not possible .
Speaker 2Right , we've got to take care of our lines too .
Speaker 3That's right .
Speaker 2Yeah , so going on to preparation and training . What was the preparation process like before heading west ? Like with your families , your home ?
Speaker 3my biggest process was coaching my little girl until I was gonna be gone for a week . Uh , far as work is just double triple checking trucks , tires , oil fluids . I mean they're getting ready to go on a road trip for which it took us 12 hours to get there because of the detours .
Speaker 2So a 12-hour trip that normally should have taken . What about six ?
Speaker 3Six hours . Wow . We were the first ones to the co-op . They had zero meters turning . They were actually calling us on interstate wanting us to stop and pick up generators for them because they didn't have lights at the co-op itself , at the actual office .
Speaker 2Okay .
Speaker 3So you know , it's just really a lot of prep work goes into it to make sure you can get there , do your work and get back home as you went .
Speaker 2And Eric . You were there a week before Lawrence . You said how many guys went there 19? .
Speaker 3There was 19 with us , 19 of us .
Speaker 2So we had some linemen , we had a mechanic , we had a safety manager , lyman , we had mechanic , we had safety manager . So , eric , you were one of the first crews to get out there , and Lawrence , you went the second week .
Speaker 4Yes , ma'am .
Speaker 2So what was your preparation ? Like you and the crews that went out then , did you have to basically pretty much do what these guys did ? I guess there was better I don't want to say better communication , but you and your crews know like what was needed out there that we had to bring from here .
Speaker 3Not offhand , when we left we just knew there was no communication . The only communication we had was satellite phone . Okay , so for the first two or three days there , talking to our operations manager and people here back at home , and I was communicating with Lawrence calling them . They were coming the week after telling them what to expect , what to bring things we didn't have they might need to bring the weather , how it was going to be . So all that for the first few days was over satellite phone . The only communication we had other than our CB radios in the truck between crews up there . So that was a big hurdle we had .
Speaker 2It gives you a better appreciation for the comforts and conveniences we have every day , doesn't it ? So there was a lot of young guys , young linemen , that went on this restoration there was .
Speaker 3There was a lot of uh hills and climbing to be done in the mountains okay , so we're going to get to that bit .
Speaker 2That in just a minute , lawrence , and this was not your first um time assisting in a storm like this , was it no ?
Speaker 4ma , no , ma'am .
Speaker 2You weren't you at Katrina , was it ?
Speaker 4I think I've been just about all of them the last 33 years . I've worked a bunch of storms .
Speaker 2How about you , eric ? Did you ever go to Katrina yeah ?
Speaker 3I was in Katrina , you were Okay .
Speaker 2Yes , ma'am .
Speaker 3We stayed there for two weeks .
Speaker 2Having gone to Katrina , do you think it gave you a better insight on what to expect here , or are all storms different ?
Speaker 3all are different all are different I mean that was still basically flatland closer to beach coast , like we've got here . You know we've got more flatlands coast and swamp and woods and mountains was a different beast I bet it was thank god for them , guys that want to do it in the mountains . They are tough , they are very driven to do their job every day , because this is a different beast up there .
Challenges and Safety During Disaster Assistance
Speaker 3It really is .
Speaker 2Going back to preparing for the storm , preparing to go out west . I should say you guys get in your trucks , you convoy , you get in a convoy , you go from eastern North Carolina , western North Carolina . You said it's a six-hour trip . It took you 12 hours to get there as you got closer to the disaster area . Either one of you can answer this and you start to see the devastation like what runs through your mind . And I mean , I know all storms are different , but are you shocked ? Are you just in disbelief ? What did you feel ? What did the other guys , you know , feel ? Did anybody express you know how they felt ?
Speaker 4When we see stuff like that , we're ready to get started , get the power back on for the people that's really in need . So it really motivates us when we see stuff like that it's game time .
Speaker 2Game time put your game face on , all right it's time to get with it well , good . And so you get out there and there's , you know , houses , buildings have been torn on , foundations , you know , just demolished . Where do you stay when you assist in disaster areas ? So , eric , when , when you got there , what happened ?
Speaker 3The first night they had us a hotel , no power . It was actually a fallout house for the residents at the time , so the rooms were a disaster , not their fault , it was just how it was . You know , they were trying to accommodate us the best they could and they'd done a great job . But the first night we slept in the trucks were on the bumper of the truck , um , kind of like Katrina . We stayed the first three or four nights on the bumper of the truck . There was no power nowhere . So once we started getting power on certain places you get power to your hotel , you start getting running water . You can actually get you a bath without a bottle of water in the parking lot . So the first night was rough , but after that we had a hotel with power do you guys experience this ?
Speaker 2both of you did in katrina . What are these younger linemen who this is their first time think of it ? Did you warn them that this might happen or are they just like going there blind ?
Speaker 4yes , just you have to prepare them when you get there , to make sure you know they got to get enough rest and make sure they're overtired .
Speaker 3They're bright-eyed and bushy-tailed when they get there . They're ready , but reality hits them .
Speaker 2Seven days later it's a different story right . Yeah , so can you walk us through your day-to-day ? While you were in western North Carolina , you woke up at 6 in the morning or you started at 6 in the morning , roughly .
Speaker 3It was a 15-hour day from like 6 to 9 . It was basically our working day . They had nice accommodations at the warehouse . They had an excellent group of ladies that kept everything going . I mean , every morning , every night you had hot meals . They'd bring lunch out to you in the field . So I mean their accommodations , for what they had to deal with was very great , I thought .
Speaker 4It was .
Speaker 2So the same situation was when you got out there a week later , Lawrence .
Speaker 4Yeah , they really took good care of us and going back to where we stayed at when we got there , me and Eric had to switch some stuff over and we took some more satellite phones and then we had to sleep like four to a room the first night until they left and then we got to hotels .
Speaker 2And I guess really you're kind of blessed that you actually had hotel rooms to stay in .
Speaker 3It's hard working 15- , 16-hour days and taking a shower in the parking lot and then sleeping in a truck .
Speaker 4Yeah .
Speaker 3But these boys do it day in and day out .
Speaker 4We slept in gymnasiums , schools . It's like I said , the trucks Cots Wherever you can get at .
Speaker 2Yeah , wow . What were some of the biggest challenges ? I know you talked about the terrain early on , like climbing poles . I know you all are trained to climb poles but for the most part , our linemen don't climb poles on a regular basis anymore , correct , Because of the bucket trucks . Most of the time we have bucket trucks that can reach .
Speaker 3We try to keep our stuff close to the road , especially when we're updating our system . But we've got to climb , it's in our protocol . But we've got to climb , it's in our protocol , we've got to climb . And coming up through the program the younger guys they've got to climb to be able to pass .
Speaker 4It's in our apprenticeship program .
Speaker 2These guys are climbing poles like every single day , all day long out there , correct these ?
Speaker 3guys had blisters on their calves from climbing every day , like just slightly of blood coming out of their calf . I'm kind of skipping ahead . But on the way home we stopped to eat and the boys had some shorts on them . They were just trying to get home . We had three more hours to get home , I believe . We stopped and ate , fueled up and the boys were walking up and everybody's calves were just as red as the stop sign and it was from their hooks digging into them . Wow .
Speaker 2It's not an easy job . It's not for the light of heart , is it ?
Speaker 3You've got to be determined . Without the mechanics going with us , it would have been hard to keep our job going . I mean , that's why it takes so many people to go . You know , yeah , we had a bunch of young guys their first storm , bright-eyed and bushy-tailed , ready to go , and , like I say thank God for them because they climbed and , climbed and worked . Nobody had no quit in them .
Speaker 3Everybody that went with my group it was just , I'm sure , with Lawrence as well . There was no quit . They'd have stayed two weeks if they'd have chosen to stay .
Speaker 2That's what I heard too , that some of the guys didn't want to come back . But you know , for safety sakes too , you've got to come back . You've got to get rested and all that .
Speaker 3Jeff had called me the first couple of days . I want to know how the morale was , how we felt . You know , we were still gung-ho , you know , and of course we wanted to stay . Ain't nobody going to tell you we want to come home . So they told us that it weren't up to us , that they were going to send another crew , and so they started talking about things they may need . But without the amount of people we carry and the brotherhood from this co-op to the next co-op , it's impossible to achieve . So that's why we carry so many people .
Speaker 4Mechanics , you've got to have them , you've got to have mechanics with you .
Speaker 2Yeah , otherwise you'd be sitting on the side of the road still , wouldn't you ?
Speaker 3And Chris , he went with us for my group .
Speaker 2Chris is our safety manager . Chris is our safety manager and bless his heart .
Speaker 3He flagged a lot .
Speaker 2Which is a good thing , right .
Speaker 3It takes pressure off of me or any other crew . Former that's there . It's one more thing . You don't have to worry about set him up . He takes care of the traffic or you know anything we need to do . He can run get material . He's gonna got food for us . He was . He was just a shotgun man . You know , just run here , run there , help us out . So it was . It was great having everybody .
Speaker 2Lawrence , do you have any um thing to add to that about challenges that were faced , whether physically or emotionally ?
Speaker 4I think one of the biggest challenges for us was getting to the broke poles . Even though you could see the next pole , you couldn't get to it . You might have to drive 15 minutes to get to the next pole because the roads are washed out , bridges are washed out , so you just had to find the best way you could to get to the next pole . It's a challenge to do that . It just was challenging to do that . It just slows you down a lot .
Speaker 3Time Time A job here . It would take two hours . It's taken four and five hours . I mean just from the terrain .
Speaker 2Now didn't you have to like there were some places where you couldn't access and you had to walk to some areas ?
Speaker 3Yes , ma'am , absolutely . I mean , there was a couple days where we parked at bucket trucks and they had a track machine with us . So we used their track machine and they would set the poles for us up on the side of the mountain or in them big right-of-ways , and we'd have to walk out the line , pull it up by hand , jack the wire off hooks , you name it .
Speaker 2So safety , we know , is obviously top priority here at Jones-Onslow . And in these high-risk environments , how do you keep yourself and your team safe , especially when you're working with downed power lines and damaged infrastructure in unfamiliar territory ?
Speaker 4Well , like you say , safety is our number one , top priority . Everybody watches out for each other . We just follow all the safety rules .
Speaker 3We carry our rules with us . I mean , even though we're not working at home , we work by our rules , our book Up there . There's nothing but opportunity . Anytime you got down , there's nothing but opportunity to get hurt . But there in the mountains you stomp a toe , you're rolling hundreds of feet . I mean on some of them poles . You could be really rolling down until you hit the highway . So I mean there's nothing but opportunity there . So it's just like Lawrence says just watch out for your buddy , make sure they're right there with you . You know , lend a hand anytime you can and pray .
Speaker 2Pray . So do you have a memorable day that you and or your crews had that you'd like to share with our listeners ? Either one of you , both of you .
Speaker 4Well , every day is memorable for us . At the end of the day , when you get lights on for the people , it's just a great feeling .
Speaker 3It's the cheers when you're rolling into a neighborhood that they haven't seen nobody for weeks . The cheers when you're coming in . You're thinking , man , they're cheering for us , but we ain't got started yet . But when you actually turn the lights on and you're leaving that night at 9 , 10 o'clock at night and you can see lights in the rearview mirror and people out by the driveway clapping and hollering , it's very heartwarming . A few more encounters with some of the people that were there .
Kindness and Community Support
Speaker 3A couple of things is we had the lady at the hotel that was like a manager . Toward the end of the week we were running out of clothes . You know , um , we had to have some clothes . Socks smelt real good , you know , and then boots all day . You know 15 , 16 hour day . So the lady at the hotel , uh , she would take all our clothes and wash them in at the hotel for nothing and put them at our door fridge or we always took some collection up and helped her out . You know , tip her .
Speaker 3But I also met the lady we were talking about how good the biscuits were every morning for breakfast . Well , we was down there talking to the lady at the front counter actually getting some clothes washed and this lady kept talking . So our bird dog , which is who shows us around , it actually ended up being his sister-in-law that cooked the biscuits . So we got talking . I said , you know , we're leaving tomorrow morning . We need something extra in our biscuits , you know . So she said we're having country ham tomorrow morning . I said , all right .
Speaker 3I said , well , fix 19 of them , I said , and add some extra ham in there . You know , she said I'll see what I can do . I ham in there . You know , I see what I can do . All right . So she hands , delivers the biscuits to me the next morning . I'm talking , you know , six o'clock , 6 , 15 in the morning , she , she's there , she drives to the car , hands deliver them and uh , so we got the biscuits and all the guys were just killing them . Well , she gave me , she gives me another box and it had a sign on it says um , here's something a little extra , a little sweet , with a little extra Jesus protection . So I opened up the box . It was Snickers bars with a little Jesus taped to every one of them .
Speaker 5For all the guys .
Speaker 3So I still got the sign . I kept it .
Speaker 5Oh , definitely .
Speaker 3But it was awfully sweet of her . I mean , she herself was living in the disaster area and getting up every morning cooking biscuits for all the workers . So just a little extra sweetness there . Oh yeah , the hotel manager , morning cooking biscuits for all the workers . So just a little extra sweetness there .
Speaker 4Oh yeah , the hotel manager . She was really awesome . She helped us the same way yeah wash her clothes , knock on the door and get her clothes back . And um , there was one family that we helped out . We donated . All the guys pitched in and donated was heartwarming to know that people can come together , you know , and support each other , even in the , to know that people can come together .
Speaker 2You know and support each other , even in the darkest hours .
Speaker 3It is yeah .
Speaker 2So , now that you're back home , have you all stayed in touch with any of the communities or the people that you helped out in western North Carolina ?
Speaker 4Yeah , every storm we go on . Most of the time we'll meet new linemen and we'll exchange numbers and throughout the years down the road we stay in contact . Nice .
Speaker 3We'll see them on other storms or up at school when we're getting recertified for certain things . I mean , I've had them call me out of the blue , you know , wondering how everything's going . I've been to the mountains a few times now , so it's good to hear from them and hear that they've , you know , progressed and you know , pushed forward and got through . What they were dealing with . And that's the thing about leaving is you're leaving and the job's not done .
Speaker 2Yeah , that's the hard part .
Speaker 3You know it's going to be months and months and months . You know it's like some of the bigger storms we've had here , especially like Bertha and Fran . Yeah , all our help left and lights are on , but there's months , if not years , of security lights , Finding this pedestal , finding that transformer . That's going to be going on for a long time . So there's a lot of work left to do , even when you leave , and that's the hard part going to be going on for a long time .
Speaker 2So there's a lot of work left to do even when you leave , and that's the hard part . I mean just think here at Jones-Lonslow we started 80 years ago and how many lines we have put up over 80 years , and if a storm like that came through and wiped everything out , the amount of time and effort it would take to put it back together .
Speaker 4It would be devastating and that's why we like helping other co-ops that didn't come help us . Eric's over here like please , god for any God , please don't let that happen .
Speaker 2Burford and Fram done a number on us , and I think too , it's been about six weeks since Hurricane Helene hit the West and there's still people in that area I'm sure other areas without power .
Speaker 3Everything material can be gone tomorrow . Life is short and just be happy with what you have , because Mother Nature can take it in an instant Help people in need . I mean just it ain't got to be no disaster . If you see somebody with a flat tire , help them . I mean just it ain't got to be no disaster If you see somebody with a flat tire . Help them I mean it's Human kindness .
Speaker 3It'll come around . You know what I mean . It'll come . Everything comes back around . So just be kind and help and just be happy with what you've got and how hard you've worked for what you've achieved .
Speaker 2And in this day and age we need more kindness in the world .
Speaker 3We do yeah .
Speaker 2Lawrence , did you want to add anything ?
Speaker 4It was rewarding . When I come home and I was missing my little grandson , 18 months old . When I got out of the truck he came running to me with his arms out and that really touched me . Just helping people . It'll put a smile on your face .
Speaker 2Well , we're grateful to the families of our crews for their unwavering support , allowing you to keep the lights on no matter where the work takes you . So thank you so much . Thank you , you're welcome .
Speaker 5Be on the lookout for scammers . Jones-onslow EMC will never call demanding immediate payment to avoid disconnection . Scammers will , and they can spoof phone numbers to look legit . Hang up if in doubt . Don't fall for scammers' threats . If it seems suspicious , check your account status online anytime . You can easily create an online account at joemccom or call us Member-focused service-driven .
Speaker 1That's our co-op Service-driven . That's our co-op . Lights and laughter . Some of our neighbors are quietly struggling in the dark . Their silent nights may not be by choice , but due to hardship . You can be the miracle that changes their story With Power Bucks . Your gift will bring light to their home , restoring hope and transforming their season into one of joy . One simple call to 910-353-1940 can turn their silent night into a merry , glowing celebration . Learn more about PowerBucks at joemccom . Slash PowerBucks .
Speaker 1Not sure what to do when you encounter a downed power line ? We have the perfect article for you . We want our members to feel as if they can come to us as their guide to electrical safety . Head to our website and view our blog section to read more on what to do when you encounter a downed power line . When was the last time you ventured into your attic or crawl space to inspect your HVAC system's ductwork ? If it's been a while , now is the perfect time to roll up your sleeves and take a look . Ductwork should be inspected twice a year once before using your cooling system in the summer , and again before you turn on your heating system in the winter . Over time , they can become detached or fall due to poor insulation techniques which can result in costly energy loss . Check for detachment , use the right materials , save energy and save money . To read more , view our newsletter on our website .
Speaker 1Calling all high school juniors , it's time to apply for a free trip to Washington DC in June 2025 for the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour . Embarking on this journey is not just about an adventure . It's about personal growth . You'll have the chance to enhance your college applications , access several college scholarship applications and interact with our state and federal officials . Youth Tour delegates will be selected after completing an application and a short essay . More information will be coming soon . For the latest details , follow us on social media or contact Crystal Phillips at kphillips at joemccom . We hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving , as our offices will be closed November 28th and 29th . And that's what's happening at your co-op this month .
Speaker 3Well , folks , that'll do it for this episode of Flipping the Switch Until next time . If you don't currently follow us on Facebook , instagram or any of our other social media channels , consider doing so . It's the best way to keep informed about what's going on with your cooperative .
Speaker 4Thanks again .