GUC answered the call for help from our neighbors to the west after Hurricane Helene left devastating damage in its wake. Over the weekend of September 28th, Electric crews made the six-hour trip to western NC to the towns of Morganton and Drexel. Several bucket trucks, digger derricks, pole trailers, and tree trimming equipment made the trip with them. Their primary goal is to restore power to those who were affected by this storm. 

As a community-owned utility, GUC is part of a network of municipal systems that have mutual aid agreements designed to help each other during urgent situations such as this hurricane event. Our crews will work alongside others from across the country who operate under mutual aid agreements. These agreements allow community agencies to come together following disasters where system damage is widespread and significant. We have been the recipients of this aid from other utilities many times throughout the years. 

As their work progresses, we’ll update you on their experiences. Be sure to follow GUC on Facebook and Instagram to see photos and updates as we receive them from our crews. 

Help us thank the following employees who left their homes and families to assist our neighbors in the west. Many thanks to them, as well as those who stayed behind to take care of business here: 

Overhead Supervisor Jeffrey Williams; Crew Leaders Mike Ashley, David Bunch, James Forrest, and Timmy Pollard; First Class Lineworkers Derek Elks, Richard Gould, Zach Kruger, Matt McLawhorn, and Billy Owens;  Second Class Lineworkers Matt Board, CJ Forrest, and Gustavo Smith; Third Class Lineworkers Jordan Bradshaw, Tyler Bradshaw, Chandler Fornes, Hunter Forrest, Oscar Meeks, and Davis Wynne; Tree Trimmer Crew Leader Connie McGowan; Tree Trimmers I Jordan Clymer and Will Waggoner; and Tree Trimmer II Bradley Hardee.

Helping From Home 
Many organizations are doing what they can to help the communities in need following Helene. GUC has joined the efforts of the City of Greenville, IBX Media, Minges Bottling, and Ignite Church who are coordinating a hurricane relief supplies drive.  

To make it easy for employees who want to help, collection boxes were set up in the lobbies of all our office buildings and treatment plants from Tuesday to Thursday.   

Also, in recognition of Public Power, Public Gas, and Customer Relations Week, Customer Relations extended the hurricane relief supply drive to the week of October 7th. There will be a collection box located in the Call Center, Operations (E&O lobby and Stores), Express, Main Office, and at the Pitmaster Challenge event on Thursday. Here are some suggestions for each day: 

• Paper towels on Monday
• Hand sanitizer or wipes Tuesday 
• Baby wipes or diapers Wednesday 
• Bottled water Thursday 
• Toiletries Friday 

HELENE MUTUAL AID UPDATE 10/28/2024:

As mutual aid work progressed throughout the first week in October, crews found that they needed additional supplies and assistance from back home. GUC dispatched a Fleet crew on October 2nd to deliver additional materials and make essential repairs, enabling our crews to continue their around-the-clock efforts to restore power. Master Mechanics Wayne Roberson and Steve Ashley were able to complete the repairs and return home the evening of October 3rd. The rest of our crews returned home on October 8th after fully restoring power to the two towns.