Puerto Rico Power Diary

At JEA, we believe in the power of community. That’s why we’ve signed mutual aid agreements with neighboring utilities to help work together to restore power after damaging storms. 

In October 2017, JEA crews traveled to Puerto Rico to assist with efforts to restore power to the island following Hurricane Maria. Over the course of the next seven weeks, a total of 85 JEA personnel helped rebuild the island’s electric infrastructure. While they were there, they shared updates on their progress.
Learn About Mutual Aid Agreements

11/17/17 8:00 a.m.

When JEA first arrived in Puerto Rico October 7, few electric workers were on site to aid the island still reeling from the damage inflicted by Hurricane Maria. Now, with more than 3,000 electric personnel in place, it is nearing the time for JEA workers to come home.

As noted in Wednesday’s diary entry, since the first contingent of JEA utility workers arrived on the island last month, JEA crews have set more than 100, 65-foot concrete poles, 80 70-foot steel poles and run 64 miles of transmission and distribution circuits.

“As JEA employees wrap up our work in Puerto Rico, we want to commend everyone for their extraordinary work over the past 45 days,” CEO Paul McElroy says. “We would like to thank the residents for the warm welcome and encouragement as our crews worked in very difficult conditions to rebuild the electric infrastructure.”

11/16/17 8:30 a.m.

JEA crews set two, 70-foot steel poles and three, 65-foot concrete poles Wednesday as power restoration efforts continue in Puerto Rico. Yesterday’s work schedule also had JEA utility workers installing a set of group switches and putting up lateral wire in neighborhoods surrounding Las Piedras. Supervisors Tom and Tim say the crews hope to finish this section of work on the #5300 circuit once they receive additional steel poles and equipment.

In the meantime, current plans call for the crews to begin putting up lateral wires on the #3000 circuit out of Juncos before circling back to complete the final repairs to #5300 in Las Piedras.

11/15/17 8:00 a.m.

It’s been 38 days since JEA workers first arrived on Puerto Rico to help restore power following the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria. In that time, JEA crews have set 100, 65-foot concrete poles, 78 70-foot steel poles and run 64 miles of transmission and distribution circuits – about the distance from downtown Jacksonville to Lake City.

And the work continues. Yesterday, the linemen finished putting up wire through the town of Las Piedras on the #5300 circuit on which they’ve been working for the past several days. Today, the crews will meet with a PREPA engineer to ensure everything is ready at the Las Piedras substation in order to complete the circuit from Juncos to Las Piedras before moving on to another nearby circuit. 

“As we have learned, things change quickly on the island,” JEA Manager Andy says, “so we will keep you updated on where the crews will be working next.”

11/14/17 8:00 a.m.

Work continued on the #5300 circuit near Las Piedras, Puerto Rico on Monday, with JEA utility workers setting poles and pulling up wire on 18 spans of conductor for both transmission and distribution circuits. The crews will resume that work today as they await the arrival of more supplies to continue their efforts to restore power to the people of Puerto Rico.

“Getting material continues to be an issue, but the crews are doing their best with the materials they are allotted each day,” supervisors Tom and Tim report. “As always, safety remains a priority.” 

11/13/17 8:00 a.m.

JEA crews spent Sunday setting steel poles and running spans of wire on three circuits that run to the Las Piedras substation. They will continue that work today, and hope to accelerate their pace once they receive the additional materials needed to complete much-needed repairs to the Puerto Rico power grid following Hurricane Maria.

“We’ve been told the barge with the materials has come in and (the equipment) is being separated so it can be sent out to the crews,” JEA Manager Andy reports. “They are looking forward to getting the anticipated material so they can get back on track and move forward at their typical pace.”

11/12/17 7:00 a.m.

Saturday saw JEA crews in Puerto Rico set seven poles and pull 16 spans of wire on the #5300 line in Juncos/Las Piedras. The utility workers also spent time in local neighborhoods, preparing another circuit for when the transmission can be energized.

Supervisors Tom and Tim say the crews will continue to work on the #5300 line while they await the arrival of much-needed materials to complete repairs. “It is still a couple of days away before the material issue is expected to be resolved, so we may continue to see less-than-ideal production in the short term,” they say. “But as always, the crews are giving it their all under the circumstances.”

11/11/17 8:00 a.m.

Happy Veterans Day to the brave men and women who have served in our nation’s armed forces. As America honors the service and sacrifice of our veterans, JEA is ever mindful of all they contribute to our nation. Twenty percent of JEA’s workforce, in fact, is comprised of men and women who have served or continue to serve in the military – and some of those veterans are serving in another capacity right now as part of JEA’s second contingent of utility workers restoring power in Puerto Rico. 

While America marked Veterans Day as a legal holiday Friday, it was business as usual for JEA’s veterans and their colleagues in Puerto Rico, where crews set 70-foot concrete poles and ran spans of wire on the #5300 circuit from the Juncos/Las Piedras line to the Las Piedras substation. They will continue that work today and on Sunday, and hope to complete setting the poles and running the wire on the #5300 circuit by the end of the weekend.

11/10/17 7:00 a.m.

JEA crews working in Puerto Rico made it to the Las Piedras metropolitan area Thursday. The utility workers were able to set nine poles yesterday, despite being hampered by the weather and working in a busy, congested area. Progress was also slowed as the workers continue to await the arrival of a shipment of materials needed to make repairs to the local power grid.

Once the materials arrive, JEA supervisors Tom and Tim say, the crews will begin framing poles and running spans of wire, with the goal of completing the circuit on which they’re working in the next three to five days.

“This is one of the main tie points,” Tom explains. “There is a lot of work still to do in the neighborhoods, but that will come after they get all the sub-stations energized.”

11/9/17 8:00 a.m.

Heavy downpours slowed the work of JEA crews on their first full day of work in Puerto Rico Wednesday. The 45 utility workers had arrived on Tuesday, replacing the 41 workers who returned home to Jacksonville that day after spending 30 days making critical repairs to the island’s severely damaged electric infrastructure.

Despite the rain, the new crews were able to set five, 70-foot steel poles before traveling to a nearby area where they put up wire on lateral feeds for the remainder of the day. Today, the crews will continue setting poles along Highway 198 toward Las Piedras, working as quickly as safety permits to complete as much work as possible before more showers are predicted to arrive on Friday.

11/8/17 8:00 a.m.

When JEA trucks first rolled through customs and onto the streets of Puerto Rico a month ago, 41 JEA utility workers were greeted with cheers and shouts of “Thank you!” from grateful residents. Tuesday night, those same workers returned home to Jacksonville, where they were greeted with cheers, tears and “Welcome Home” banners and balloons from jubilant wives, children, family and friends. It was an emotional scene at JIA, as young children leapt into the waiting arms of their fathers and wives tearfully embraced their returning husbands, as the video below attests.

The Tuesday night homecoming mirrored the emotional send-off the second contingent of JEA workers received that morning as they boarded planes for Puerto Rico, where they will continue the work their fellow linemen began. Upon landing on the island at 12:45 p.m., the crews quickly dropped off their belongings at the hotel that will be their home for the next month before being transported to their trucks. After loading all their tools and equipment, the workers then met with the contractors overseeing power restoration for an in-depth safety briefing. 

“The crews were filled on what they can expect as far as Puerto Rico traffic, weather and terrain,” JEA Manager Andy says. “Then our leadership team met with the guys and discussed specifications as to how the poles are framed and other significant details they have come across.”

Today, the new crews will pick up where their predecessors left off: putting up steel poles and running conductor for both transmission and distribution circuits along Highway 198 toward the town of Las Piedras. “For their first day, the new crews will be challenged not only by the new surroundings, but also by the soaking rain that’s expected today,” Andy notes. “They’re anxious to get to work, but safety comes first.”

11/7/17 7:30 a.m.

Monday was a big day for JEA crews helping to restore power in Puerto Rico. After setting more steel poles and running distribution and transmission circuits along Highway 198, the crews assisted PREPA by going back and checking all the work they’ve completed since arriving on the island a month ago. The final check was in preparation for PREPA to energize a 115-transmission circuit that in turn will feed the circuit on which JEA crews have been working along Highway 198.

This morning, the crews will continue checking all of their repairs before heading to the airport for their return flight home, completing their 30-day mission as another contingent of JEA workers arrives on the island to aid the people of Puerto Rico.

11/6/17 7:30 a.m.

Sunday was a busy day for JEA employees helping with power restoration in Puerto Rico. Crews worked throughout the day to set seven, 70-foot steel poles and run seven spans of transmission and distribution circuits along Highway 198 between Juncos and Las Piedras.

Today will be the last full day of work for this first contingent of 41 JEA employees. The crews, which have been on the island for 30 days, will fly home to Jacksonville Tuesday as a second JEA contingent arrives to continue restoring power to the people of Puerto Rico.

“This first group has set the bar very high for the new group coming in,” JEA supervisors Matt and Shawn say. “The crews will work tomorrow right up until it’s time for them to catch their plane home.”

JEA lineman Justin notes that JEA utility workers have earned high marks for their speed, efficiency and professionalism during their time in Puerto Rico.

“Our guys really made an impression – they have impressed everyone from the governors of both Puerto Rico and Florida to the people of Caguas, Juncos, Monacillo, Las Puedras and San Juan,” he says. “People are walking up to me and asking if I’m JEA. When I say yes, they then ask, ‘When are you coming to XYZ?’ It’s a pretty neat thing to be a part of.”

Justin also credits the team’s supervisors for their leadership and coordination of JEA’s power restoration efforts.

“All the guys worked really hard,” he says, “but I think Shawn and Matt really set the tone for the trip from the very beginning.”

11/5/17 8:00 a.m.

JEA crews completed the circuit on which they’d been working along Puerto Rico’s Highway 198 Saturday – repairs that involved setting 17 poles and pulling in conductor for both transmission and distribution circuits. After reaching the city of Juncos, the crews gathered the materials they will need as they resume their journey today toward the town of Las Piedras.

Along the way, the linemen will continue setting 70-foot steel poles and putting up spans of both transmission and distribution circuits.

11/4/17 8:00 a.m.

While JEA crews working in Puerto Rico did not make it all the way to Juncos on Friday as they had hoped, utility workers were able to pull in 20 spans of conductor for both transmission and distribution circuits along Highway 198. They will continue that work today, supervisors Matt and Shawn say, and should be able to reach Juncos sometime during the day.

From there, the crews will continue to set poles and pull in conductor, following Highway 198 as it turns toward Las Piedras, a town of some 39,000 people located approximately 45 minutes from the capital of San Juan.

11/3/17 8:30 a.m.

JEA crews continued setting poles and putting up spans of conductor for transmission and distribution wires along Puerto Rico’s Highway 198 Thursday. After completing work for the day, the crews shared a meal with JEA CEO Paul McElroy, who traveled to the island as part of a delegation of Florida utility providers led by Gov. Rick Scott. McElroy and other utility leaders will meet with the governor today to discuss Florida’s efforts to assist Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.

Today, JEA’s utility workers will continue putting up poles and running wire along Highway 198. Supervisors Matt and Shawn report that the crews hope to reach the city of Juncos by the end of the day. From there, the linemen will head southeast toward the town of Las Piedras, making much-needed repairs to the local electric infrastructure as they prepare to complete their assignment in Puerto Rico.

On Tuesday, Nov. 7, JEA’s first Puerto Rico contingent of 41 workers will return home as a second wave of 45 JEA employees arrives to continue the work of restoring power to the island's residents.

11/2/17 8:30 a.m.

Seven new, 70-foot steel power structures were erected along Puerto Rico’s Highway 198 Wednesday, as JEA crews continue their efforts to restore power to the island following Hurricane Maria. Today, the crews will continue that work, setting new poles and pulling in the conductor for both transmission and distribution circuits as they make their way west toward the mountain city of Juncos.

11/1/17 9:30 a.m.

Power restoration continued along Puerto Rico’s Highway 198 Tuesday, as JEA crews set 13, 70-foot steel structures and framed the poles for both transmission and distribution circuits. That work will continue today, as utility workers finish setting the towering structures and installing the conductors that will help get power up and running for the people of Puerto Rico.

JEA supervisors Matt and Shawn note that cell phone service is becoming spotty as the crews head into mountainous terrain on the way to Juncos, but they will continue to keep us updated on the crews’ progress.

10/31/17 8:30 a.m.

JEA crews working in Puerto Rico completed their repairs along Calle 1 yesterday, and will now move on to Highway 198 (a change from yesterday), where their tasks will include setting two-piece, 70-foot steel poles and putting up both transmission and distribution conductors. Joining them in their work today will be crews from Lakeland Electric as well as KUA, with whom JEA crews have been working since arriving on the island.

As this work progresses, JEA CEO Paul McElroy has assured Puerto Rican officials that JEA is committed to helping restore power to the island as PREPA moves to end its contract with Whitefish Energy Holdings. McElroy notes that at the time JEA offered to help restore power to Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria, Whitefish was the contractor charged with coordinating power restoration.

“As that circumstance changes, we will work with PREPA and anyone else that may be assigned to make this devastating situation better,” he says. “Our very talented and hard-working JEA crew members are in Puerto Rico now and working hard every day. On behalf of JEA, we are dedicated to the task at hand – making a meaningful contribution to the people of Puerto Rico by helping them to get their electric system up and running as soon as possible.”

10/30/17 9:00 a.m.

Equipment repairs slowed the progress of JEA crews working in Puerto Rico Sunday. Utility workers had been re-setting and replacing damaged poles along Calle 1 when the crane provided to them needed to be shut down temporarily and a center mount truck failed to operate properly. JEA’s fleet personnel were able to fix the truck, however, and our crews were soon back in business, restoring power to the people of Puerto Rico.

Today’s schedule began with a team safety meeting. As JEA’s initial crews dispatched to Puerto Rico approach the end of their 30-day assignment, supervisors Matt and Shawn report, workers are being encouraged to remain mindful of such safety hazards as fatigue and overexertion.

The crews will resume their work on Calle 1 today, putting up poles and running transmission and distribution circuits there before moving on to the adjoining Highway 152, heading west toward the city of Juncos. 

10/29/17 8:00 a.m.

Despite rainy weather that slowed the progress of JEA crews in Puerto Rico on Saturday, utility workers were still able to set seven concrete poles and put up 15 spans of transmission and distribution wire, completing the section of Highway 32 on which they had been working.

JEA crews will now move on to the adjoining Calle 1, where they will continue to repair and replace transmission and distribution circuits along the road to Juncos. Supervisors Matt and Shawn report that today’s efforts will focus on re-setting eight toppled power poles and replacing nine others that were damaged beyond repair by Hurricane Maria. 

10/28/17 8:00 a.m.

JEA crews had a busy day Friday, gathering material from the PREPA warehouse and preparing concrete poles for installation as part of the power restoration efforts in Puerto Rico. The utility workers then began setting the 65-foot poles and putting up both transmission and distribution circuits. By the end of the day, JEA linemen had set 12 new poles along Puerto Rico’s Highway 32.

Today, the crews will continue west along the highway toward Juncos, working as quickly as safety permits to restore power to the people of Puerto Rico, one pole at a time.

10/27/17 10:00 a.m.

After more than a week of moving south along Puerto Rico’s PR 1 highway, JEA crews arrived in the city of Caguas yesterday. Today, the crews will start a new set of circuits that feed out of the Caguas substation. JEA linemen will begin working on both transmission and distribution circuits that follow the island’s Highway 32 west toward the city of Juncos.

10/26/17 8:30 a.m.

Wednesday was another productive day in Puerto Rico for JEA utility workers, who set 12, 65-foot concrete poles and put up 18 spans of transmission and distribution circuits. Supervisors Shawn and Matt report that JEA crews are on schedule to complete their work along this stretch of the island’s PR 1 highway near Caguas today. They will then continue south along PR 1, making repairs to the island’s severely damaged electric infrastructure as they heard toward the city of Juncos.

10/25/17 9:30 a.m.

JEA crews working in Puerto Rico are close to completing repairs along the 6-mile stretch of the PR 1 highway on which they’ve been working for the past several days. Supervisors Matt and Shawn report that JEA’s utility workers set nine poles and put up 18 spans of transmission and distribution circuits yesterday between the towns of Monacillos and Caguas – work they hope to complete within the next day or so. From there, the crews will continue south along PR 1 toward the town of Juncos.

Meanwhile, JEA crews in Jacksonville jumped into action to assist the ongoing power restoration efforts by helping to drive a fleet of OUC utility trucks onto the ships that will bring them to Puerto Rico.

10/24/17 8:30 a.m.

Monday was another productive day for power restoration on the island of Puerto Rico. JEA crews were able to set nine poles and put up 18 spans of transmission and distribution circuits by the Rio Canas Substation. Today, the crews will continue south down the PR 1 highway, repairing and replacing the same transmission and distribution circuits on which they’ve been working for the past 10 days.

“The guys are in good spirits and have noted that they’re being treated well by the local people,” JEA Manager Angel reports. “They continue to work safely, taking all necessary precautions.”

10/23/17 8:30 a.m.

Sunday was no day of rest for JEA crews working to restore power in Puerto Rico. Our utility workers were able to set seven concrete poles and hang the transmission and distribution lines needed to get the island’s power back up and running. And this morning, the crews will be back at it, continuing their progress south along the PR 1 highway.

“Our coordination with local officials is helping to speed up our progress,” JEA manager Angel says, “and we hope to be able to keep that going in the future.”

10/22/17 8:00 a.m.

Saturday was a very productive day in Caguas, Puerto Rico for JEA crews working on power restoration. Our utility workers were able to set 10, 65-foot concrete poles and hang the wire for the transmission and distribution lines, replacing the existing electric infrastructure damaged – and in some cases, completely destroyed – by Hurricane Maria. Aiding in this progress, our supervisors say, was the strong support of the state police and local fire and police departments, which closed a lane of traffic on the PR 1 highway to enable our crews to work efficiently and most importantly, safely.

A special highlight of Saturday’s work was a visit from Caguas Mayor William Rivera and PREPA CEO Richard Ramos, who thanked JEA’s workers for their help in restoring power to the people of Puerto Rico.

10/21/17 8:00 a.m

After a week of making major repairs to the electric infrastructure along the PR 1 highway, JEA crews have reached the city of Caguas, where they will continue their efforts to restore power to the people of Puerto Rico. JEA manager Angel has been working with Caguas officials to coordinate the logistics of transporting and distributing the materials and other resources the linemen will need as they work to restore power within the city limits.

“We’re very encouraged by the cooperation and support we’ve received from local officials,” Angel says. “They’re helping us establish processes and procedures to make sure things are running as smoothly as possible.”

In the brief time they’ve been on the island, Angel notes, JEA’s utility workers have earned a reputation for their hard work, efficiency and professionalism. So much so, he says, that other cities have begun requesting that JEA crews be sent to their cities. Equally gratifying, he adds, is the support and appreciation the crews have received from the Puerto Rican people.

“Our crews get stopped in the street all the time by people showing tremendous gratitude for their efforts,” Angel says. “And I can’t even count the number of Puerto Rican flags we’ve accumulated in the short time we’ve been here.”

10/20/17 8:30 a.m.

Day by day, JEA utility workers continue the slow but steady pace of putting up the poles and running the wires that will help restore power to Puerto Rico. For the past week, JEA crews have been making their way south along the Highway PR 1. While the work progressed quickly at first, our supervisors on the ground say, crews have reached a part of the island where the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria is requiring them to completely rebuild the electric infrastructure.

Still, JEA’s crews press on with the strenuous and exacting work of replacing downed and damaged poles with 65-foot concrete replacements and new wire spans for both transmission and distribution lines.

10/19/17 9:00 a.m.

JEA crews continued working along Puerto Rico’s Highway PR 1 Wednesday, but our supervisors Matt and Shawn report that progress continues to be slow due to the extensive damage to the island’s electric infrastructure and the logistical challenges of the area in which they’re working. To date, JEA linemen have set 65-foot concrete poles and run wires along 2.5 miles of this major Puerto Rico thoroughfare.

“Much of what we are running across is a complete rebuild,” Matt says, “but the crews are plugging along, setting concrete poles heading south toward the Caguas city limits.”

Today, JEA crews hope to set an additional seven concrete poles and run the transmission and distribution wires before the end of the day. 

10/18/17 8:00 a.m.

Tuesday’s favorable weather was a boon to JEA crews restoring power in Puerto Rico. After heavy rain slowed their progress on Monday, our linemen were able to continue setting new poles and putting up wire along PR 1. Today, JEA utility workers will continue their progress south toward the town of Caguas. But the task before them remains difficult, our supervisors in Puerto Rico report.

“We are not making the strides we were in the beginning, because the farther south we get, the worse the damage is to the pole line,” supervisors Shawn and Matt explain. “We are at a point now where everything is on the ground and we are rebuilding from scratch.” 

10/17/17 3:00 p.m.

Periods of heavy rain slowed the work of JEA crews restoring power in Puerto Rico Monday, as our linemen worked to set large concrete poles for a three-circuit line along the PR 1 thoroughfare. Weather conditions have been more favorable today, however, allowing JEA crews to pick up their pace and continue setting the 65-foot poles and running the wires that will help get Puerto Rico’s power back up and running.

10/17/17 9:00 a.m.

Whitefish Energy shared this video showing JEA crews helping to restore power in Puerto Rico. Watch the video to hear our supervisor, Matt, explain how JEA crews are replacing damaged wooden poles with 65-foot concrete poles as part of the restoration process. JEA crews are working closely with Whitefish Energy, the Montana-based contractor coordinating power restoration efforts on the island.

10/16/17 8:00 a.m.

Sunday was a busy day for JEA crews working to restore power in Puerto Rico. Our linemen worked diligently throughout the day near Monacillos, setting 65-foot concrete transmission poles and connecting both transmission and distribution circuits. The response from local residents has been both enthusiastic and appreciative, our crews tell us.

“Every time we turn on a section of line, the community starts a parade,” JEA supervisor Matt reports. “The people have been treating our crews really well.”

Today, JEA crews will continue south, putting up wire along PR 1 on the same major three-circuit line they’ve been repairing since Friday.

10/15/17 9:00 a.m.

Our crews in Puerto Rico were able to move forward about 4 miles Saturday, continuing their repairs to the three-circuit line on which they’ve been working for the past few days. JEA crews are re-using every piece of material they can, supervisors Matt and Shawn say, in order to get the most possible use out of the materials on hand.

Today, JEA utility workers will continue putting up wire and setting the 65-foot-tall concrete poles needed to restore power along the Highway PR 1.

10/14/17 11:00 a.m.

JEA crews continue to make progress as they work to restore power to Puerto Rico. Yesterday, crews pulled up wires, replaced insulators and completed other repairs between Monacillos and Caguas along a 4-mile stretch of PR 1, one of the island’s key thoroughfares.

“People were extremely happy to see our crews,” supervisors Matt and Shawn report, “cheering on JEA and thanking us for all the help we are bringing to the island.”

Today, crews are awaiting the delivery of 10, 65-foot concrete poles and a crane, which will be used over the next few days to complete repairs to this major three-circuit line.

10/13/17 10:00 a.m.

JEA crews are winning high marks for their hard work and efficiency in helping to restore power in Puerto Rico. Our supervisors on the island, Matt and Shawn, tell us that the agencies directing restoration operations have assigned JEA crews to make critical repairs to a significant project that will have them working through the weekend and into next week. 

Crews will focus their efforts on repairing a three-circuit line that includes a transmission line and two distribution lines. The transmission line feeds two substations, while the two distribution circuits feed several large businesses that have been without power since Hurricane Maria ravaged the island. Restoring power will require JEA’s linemen to repair 45 wood poles, 12 concrete poles and power lines that extend for approximately 15 miles.

10/12/17 3:00 p.m.

JEA crews were greeted by cheers and shouts of “Thank you!” last night, as the utility trucks rolled across Puerto Rico and our linemen began working to restore power to the island and its residents. Supervisors Matt and Shawn report that JEA utility workers completed repairs to a transmission line between two substations today, and the crews are now awaiting their next assignment, working in collaboration with PREPA, the Puerto Rican government and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Special thanks to WJXT/Meteorologia Del Caribe for this video footage showing the warm welcome our JEA crews received from the Puerto Rican people.

10/11/17 4:00 p.m.

JEA trucks are rolling across Puerto Rico, as our crews work to restore power to the island. According to JEA supervisors Matt and Shawn, while the trucks were clearing customs, JEA utility workers fanned out across the island to assess the damage to the local electric infrastructure. Following these initial damage assessments, JEA crews began delivering equipment and prepping the work sites so that all would be ready when the trucks cleared customs. Now that the trucks are rolling, Shawn and Matt say, JEA’s linemen are on the move and eager to make the repairs that will provide power to the people of Puerto Rico.

10/10/17 9:00 a.m.

A ship bearing JEA utility trucks arrived in Puerto Rico this morning, and JEA crews are standing by waiting for the trucks to be offloaded so they can assist in restoring power to the island following the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria.

Working with the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) and Whitefish Energy - the Montana-based contractor coordinating restoration efforts - JEA crews will be working on both sides of the island to help restore power. On today’s schedule: Crews will accompany Whitefish CEO Andy Techmanski to a new location, where they’ll repair a 65-foot pole that connects two electric substations.