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Charlotte Amalie
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesWAPA Crew Helping Island of Anguilla with Electrical Restoration

WAPA Crew Helping Island of Anguilla with Electrical Restoration

V.I. Water and Power Authority crews have responded to a request for help from the Anguilla Electric Company Ltd. to help restore electrical service in the wake of Hurricane Gonzalo, according to WAPA. On Wednesday, Anguilla’s utility’s chief executive officer, David Gumbs, said Gonzalo was a direct hit on the island and put out a call for assistance.

“Although we only received the request on Wednesday, preparation began immediately,” WAPA CEO Hugo Hodge Jr. said in a statement. “We were able to pull together a crew from both districts of 10 men including linemen, an engineer tech and a line superintendent. This demonstrates our readiness to assist our fellow lineman brothers in their time of need,” Hodge said.

WAPA and Anguilla power company ANGLEC are both members of CARILEC, as well as the Lineman Program, where, in times of need, members help each other.

“My fellow utility directors and I track the storms and check in with each other as they travel the island chain,” Hodge said.

“While the extent of damage to the island’s electrical system is still unknown, the linemen are prepared to do all they can to get the system back up and stable,” said Clinton Hedrington, WAPA’s director of transmission and distribution. He said the men are prepared to do a lot of pole climbing, since they will not have bucket trucks at their disposal.

Before their departure Thursday, the team was briefed by WAPA’s safety team and encouraged to do their best while keeping each other safe. The members of WAPA’s restoration team are crew leader Vincent Maynard, Rey Belardo Jr., Romeo Bergan, Gregory Creque, Shawn Dowe, Marcello Jacobs, Troy Lake, Mervin Prentice, Oscar Rolle and Malvern Williams.

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