OPPD sending crew to West Virginia to assist in Hurricane Helene relief efforts

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – The Omaha Public Power District is sending Mutual Aid crews to West Virginia in support of power restoration efforts after Hurricane Helene.

In a release Saturday, OPPD says a company in Charleston, West Virginia is taking up their offer for support.

A 16-person Mutual Aid team hit the road this morning, according to the statement, and is expected to reach Charleston by Sunday afternoon.

The statement says that over 4 million customers have lost power as a result of Hurricane Helene.

“Our employees were eager to help. Some of the Line Techs called me earlier in the week, asking when and where we were going,” said Eli Schiessler, OPPD Transmission & Distribution center manager. “The work is extremely tough, but restoring power and helping out communities in need is why many of them chose this line of work.”

This is the third time OPPD has sent out a mutual aid crew, according to the statement. OPPD has sent crews out to Kansas City in January, and Iowa and Illinois in July.

All three companies returned the favor when a massive windstorm came through Omaha in late July and knocked out over 200,000 OPPD customers.

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