Georgia Magazine - April 2021 - 14

Currents

News from Georgia's electric co-ops * Compiled by Amy Schneider

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t

EMCs assist nearby states after
winter storms

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ADDISON STOVER / COURTESY NORTH GEORGIA EMC

ADAM STARR / GRADY EMC

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Grady EMC in Cairo asked its Facebook followers to keep its crew in their prayers
as the men prepared to travel to Grayson, Ky., to help restore power for members
of Grayson Electric Cooperative. From left are Geoffrey Lawrence, Blake Freeman,
Ethan Griffin and Scott Taliaferro.

represented the following EMCs: Blue Ridge Mountain EMC (based
in Young Harris), Carroll EMC (Carrollton), Central Georgia EMC
(Jackson), Cobb EMC (Marietta), Coweta-Fayette EMC (Palmetto),
Excelsior EMC (Metter), Flint Energies (Reynolds), Grady EMC (Cairo),
GreyStone Power (Hiram), Habersham EMC (Clarkesville), Irwin
EMC (Ocilla), Jackson EMC (Jefferson), Jefferson Energy Cooperative
(Wrens), Middle Georgia EMC (Vienna), North Georgia EMC (Dalton),
Ocmulgee EMC (Eastman), Oconee EMC (Dudley), Okefenoke REMC
(Nahunta), Planters EMC (Millen), Rayle EMC (Washington), Satilla
REMC (Alma), Snapping Shoals EMC (Covington), Southern Rivers
Energy (Barnesville), Sumter EMC (Americus), Tri-County EMC (Gray),
Walton EMC (Monroe) and Washington EMC (Sandersville).

North Georgia EMC honors young artists
North Georgia Electric Membership Corp. (EMC) in Dalton put a different spin on
its annual art competition for young members. The theme for the 2021 contest
was " What I did during the pandemic. " The winning artworks depicted a variety of
activities, including fishing, swimming and playing with pets. In the category for
kindergartners through second graders, first place went to Brookelyn Bowen, a
second grader at Cohutta Elementary School in Cohutta, and second place went
to Cianna Stewart, a first grader at Lyerly Elementary School in Lyerly. Among
third through fifth graders, Khue Vu, a fifth grader at Battlefield Elementary School
in Fort Oglethorpe, earned first place, while Addison Stover, a fifth grader at
Spring Place Elementary School in Chatsworth, took second. To see the top four
artworks, go to bit.ly/ngcontest2021.

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Georgia Magazine

14-15_Currents_0421.indd 14

April 2021

3/11/21 11:50 AM

COURTESY GEORGIA EMC

ersonnel from 27 electric membership
cooperatives (EMCs) throughout Georgia
helped restore service to electric co-op
members in Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia
after those states were hit by three severe back-toback winter storms in February.
Ice and snow accumulation led to thousands
of icy tree limbs, which fell on icy power lines and
power poles, knocking out service to thousands of
EMC members.
" Nearly 1 inch of ice was predicted with these
storms, and several cooperatives were concerned
about damage to their systems, " said Harry
Reeves, vice president of training, education and
safety with Tucker-based Georgia EMC. " Fellow
co-ops in these states have done a lot for EMCs in
Georgia over the last two years, and we wanted to
return the favor. "
Reeves said working conditions were
difficult, with crews battling ice- and snowcovered roads while dealing with downed trees
and power lines that made many streets and
highways impassable.
This marked the fourth time in recent months
that Georgia's EMCs have raced to help co-ops
in nearby states. Crews headed to Alabama,
Florida and Louisiana for up to eight weeks
after hurricanes Delta, Laura and Sally, which
devastated parts of the Southeast and the Gulf
Coast last year.
As of late February, about 225 employees
of Georgia EMCs were participating in the effort
in Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. They
http://www.bit.ly/ngcontest2021
Georgia Magazine - April 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - April 2021
