Electric Co-op Today

Electric cooperatives will be able to use Missouri National Guard armories during major emergencies, under a new agreement. Officials said it will help solve some of the challenges co-ops have faced during extended power restoration work.

Major Gen. Steve Danner (left) and Barry Hart, CEO of the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, sign an agreement allowing use of Missouri National Guard armories by co-op crews during major restoration emergencies, as statewide officers and employees look on. (Photo By: AMEC)

“Crews always need secure and comfortable facilities for rest periods and meal breaks,” said Rob Land, director of risk management and training with the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives. “We’ve now got an agreement that will allow us to use some of the state’s National Guard armories during emergency restoration periods.”

The idea developed in the aftermath of a January 2009 ice storm that knocked out power to more than 64,000 co-op consumer-members in Missouri. They were among more than 2 million people in seven states who lost power when up to 13 inches of sleet, snow and freezing rain fell on parts of the area.

“We had problems finding enough hotels, motels and other facilities to house the crews we brought in,” Land said. “We eventually wound up putting some of them in Associated Electric Cooperative’s New Madrid Power Plant.”

During the power restoration emergency, co-op crews worked closely with personnel from Missouri National Guard units who’d been mobilized to help clear roads and provide other support services.

Once power was restored, Barry Hart, executive vice president and CEO of the co-ops’ statewide association, discussed the housing situation with Major Gen. Stephen Danner, adjutant general of the state’s guard units.

Gen. Danner’s relationship with electric cooperatives in Missouri goes back decades. He was once a Youth Tour delegate. He has also worked closely with co-ops as a state house staffer and elected member of Missouri’s House and Senate, Land said.

“The general talked to Barry about hooking up generators to the armories,” Land said. “But some of those facilities didn’t have the switching equipment needed to make the necessary connections.”

The two reached an agreement calling for co-ops to pick up half the costs of materials and the full costs of labor, in return for armory access during emergency restoration periods.

“There are as many as 35 locations around the state that could ultimately be available for our use,” Land said.

A pilot project is now beginning in the service territory of Pemiscot-Dunklin Electric Cooperative. The Hayti-based co-op was among those hardest hit by the 2009 ice storm, Land said.

“Being able to house hundreds of lineman in specific locations will help,” Land said. “We’ll still need kitchen facilities, caterers and some other support services, but this is a good project for us.”

Tags: Lineworkers, Power Outages, Preparedness