By Ray Birch
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Some of the most difficult and dangerous tasks following a hurricane are faced by utility line workers who restore power to homes and neighborhoods.
Lisa Brown, whose credit union serves such workers in Tallahassee, understands the sacrifices these workers make, and her credit union collected a “mountain” of supplies for them to take before they headed to southern Florida earlier this month to work in what were very tough conditions post Hurricane Irma.
“We had collected snacks, drinks, anything anyone had to donate,” said Brown, who is CEO of the $53-million Tallahassee-Leon FCU. “We had little old ladies bringing cookies—we had a trailer full of supplies in a really short period of time.”
Second Storm In 2 Years
Brown said that before the city’s utility line workers headed south shortly after Irma slammed into Florida, they had “no idea” what they were getting into. In many cases line workers would have to work in areas with no hotels, restaurants or stores open for business.
“A lot of them would be sleeping in their trucks,” she said. “So supplies really helped. And they could also share supplies with people they ran into who were in need.”
This was the second storm in two years to hit Florida hard, noted Brown. Last year when Hurricane Hermine landed, Tallahassee’s utility line workers faced a similar situation and the credit union provided supplies. Brown said that donations were easier to get this year because Irma did not hit Tallahassee hard, and people who had bought supplies to weather the storm had a lot left over to donate.
“Needless to say, we were ready to go again this year,” said Brown, noting that none of the CU’s three offices were damaged by Irma.
Commitment To Community
The support the credit union showed this year and last for the line workers illustrates how CUs are strong community supporters and “in it for the long haul,” said Brown. “Doing this back to back showed the commitment the credit union has to its members and the community.”
Not that it was the intent of the effort, but Brown noted that this year Tallahassee-Leon FCU received a great deal of press coverage for the donations.
“The local media was aware of what we did last year, and I think that led to more coverage this time,” she said.
In addition to the supplies, the credit union asked the community to stop by and hand-write thank-you notes that the CU gave to the line workers before they headed south.
“It was really neat,” said Brown. “We had little kids write letters and draw pictures saying thanks. The lineman put the notes on the dashboards of their trucks before they left.”
It was Wednesday morning, Sept. 13, when the utility workers left at 6 a.m. and Brown and a few other employees drove pickup trucks full of supplies to the staging site.
“We loaded the trailer ourselves,” said Brown. “The trailer was the size you would use to move a two-bedroom home. And we filled it to the top. We have a very close relationship with the city. And when we told them what we wanted to do they provided us with an extra trailer for the supplies.”
'Eerie Silence'
Brown recalled the “eerie silence” before the line workers left, reflecting both their appreciation for the donations and the dangerous work ahead.
“They were so thankful, many had few words,” said Brown. “They are some of the most humble people I have ever met. They do very dangerous work and they are known to be the best linemen in the state. And all they really wanted to do was get on the road because they knew a lot of people needed them. You know, I am not really sure people really appreciate the work and the dangers these men face. I don’t think they really think about that when they flip the switch and the lights come on.”
To help all of its members, Tallahassee-Leon also instituted a $500 0% hurricane loan and is providing special rates and being flexible with its polices for members who need larger loans.