With Hurricane Irma no longer a threat for our area, Greenville Utilities Commission (GUC) is sending a team of 54 people to Florida. The crews, who were joined by a pair of workers from Kinston and left Greenville this morning, are responding to a request from the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC), another community-owned utility agency.

"We are very fortunate to have been spared the devastation of this storm," said Tony Cannon, GUC's CEO / General Manager. "This is a great opportunity for public power to help public power. It's what we do — help each other out. GUC has been up and down the east coast over the years, helping others who need us, because we know they are there for us when we need help."

As a community-owned utility, GUC is part of a network of municipal systems that have mutual aid agreements designed to offer assistance during urgent situations such as these. A few years ago, following Hurricane Irene, Greenville Utilities was on the receiving end of this assistance when crews from Huntsville, Alabama, and Fayetteville traveled to assist us.

"We know it's not if we'll need somebody to help us but when we'll need the help," said Jeff Byrd, Electric Distribution Engineer. "We go out and work very long, hard hours to help restore power for folks who have lost so much. It feels great when we're able to help them, and they really appreciate it."

GUC continues to monitor the movements of Hurricane Jose, which is still active in the western Atlantic. Should Jose look like it will pose a threat to our area, GUC's crews will return home.