When linemen report for storm duty, their families are left behind to manage in their absence. Spouses navigate both storm challenges and everyday life alone. Children are often asleep when their fathers leave for work and when they arrive home.

Five-year old Braelen Neal’s daddy Matthew (above) is a Tideland lineman. Matthew snapped the photo to the right and wrote: “Braelen knows the long hours I have been putting in, so he has been getting my clothes out for me to help me out. Love him to pieces and his kind heart makes me happy. Love my family!”

Remember, the quickest and most efficient way to report an outage is via Tideland EMC's Automated Outage Reporting System. Before calling to report a power outage, check the breakers in your home or business to make sure the problem is not related to internal causes. Outage Reporting System: 1.800.882.1001 (in Beaufort County call 944.2400).