| The
Whole Pumpkin
In 2005, FEC sent linemen to assist with rebuilding the southern states ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. We knew the call would come. It was just a matter of when and where. Sister cooperatives were in trouble and needed help. We would respond. As the terrible reports of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina came blasting over the airwaves all of us in the middle part of the nation knew our fellow cooperative members in Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana were in trouble. Mentally we geared up to help. Hour after hour reports came in as thousands and thousands of poles lay on the ground and darkness settled in over the area stricken by the horrible storm. The call came and volunteers stepped forward. Nolan Parks, Aaron Wagers, Jason Howe, and Blaine Barnett joined with crews from twenty-eight other Missouri rural electric cooperatives to travel to Mississippi. There extremely hot, humid conditions waited, along with miles of brush and destroyed lines. After over a week of long days they were rotated home with Jack Boley, Ed Turbyfill, Mike Epperson, and Warren Minnis replacing them. Another period of over a week went by and electricity for the members of Singing River Electric Cooperative in Mississippi had been restored. Our crews came home while others from Missouri and other states continued working at the cooperatives where they had been assigned. Less than a week later Hurricane Rita reared her ugly head and Missouri crews were heading for Louisiana. Nolan Parks, Greg Tall, Mike Brown, and Scott Widner joined the rural electric convoy to the extreme southwest corner of Louisiana. Coop members were without power. Hardly the normal Thanksgiving story, but fellow cooperative members have electricity today thanks to other cooperatives stepping in and helping out. Touchstone Energy Cooperatives helped salvage the day. As we sit down to enjoy this great holiday season you can feel good because through your cooperative you helped other electric coop members get a head start on reclaiming their lives. Your electric cooperative is part of the whole enchilada, or since we are coming up on Thanksgiving, the whole pumpkin when it comes to serving mankind across this great country. Manager's Message Dan Bryan Executive VP/CEO Hurricane
Katrina
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