On Sept. 28, Tideland EMC linemen Michael Marslender, Austin Roscoe, Josh Dunbar, Michael Baldwin and Andrew Christie were deployed to Haywood EMC to assist with power restoration f ollowing Helene. The first challenge was getting there due to damage that ultimately left 1,080 roads damaged in western North Carolina, 105 of which are primary routes. Furthermore, 500 bridges were impacted with 100 needing full replacement. The NC Highway Patrol created a corridor to allow utility workers and other front line responders safe passage.

Tideland was assigned to work the three circuits originating from Haywood’s Candler substation in rural Buncombe County. The substation provides power to 2,400 members. The team’s workdays began at 6 a.m. and were scheduled to end by 10 p.m. nightly, but admittedly ran over a few nights.

Marslender described what would become a repeat occurrence when power was restored to an area: shotgun blasts or fireworks. The first time it happened he was sure a fuse had blown. But when there were repeat blasts he realized that was just how members in remote mountain areas celebrate. What’s referred to as a subdivision in the mountains is also quite different: four or five houses at the end of a steep one-lane road with a private bridge is the norm. With nowhere to turn around, Christie described the white knuckled experience of backing the bucket truck all the way down the same narrow roads they drove up on. In other areas they carefully navigated what remained of partially washed out roads. Occasionally they would navigate crudely erected “bridges” made by residents to reach a worksite. And it goes without saying they did a great deal of pole climbing given the challenging terrain.

By the end of their 10-day deployment, the Tideland crew had restored power to all but 50 members served by the Candler substation. Men, we thank you for your service to our sister co-op.