Oklahomans Line Up To Help With Hurricane Matthew Relief

Twelve members of a line crew with the Grand River Dam Authority are headed out Friday to assist with Hurricane Matthew.

Foreman Chester Rothhammer said they're ready and prepared to help.

At the GRDA's Transmission Headquarters, trucks are being lined up for a road trip to Jacksonville Beach, Florida.

Eleven trucks and 12 linemen from Oklahoma are prepared for everything once they get into the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew.

GRDA crews are bringing equipment that can put large power poles into the ground and string lines up.

"There's a lot to prepare for,” Rothhammer said. “That's what we've been doing all day is getting things in line that we know that we're going to need that we know that they may need."

Rothhammer is leading the group down to Florida. He's proud a utility like GRDA can help on a national scale.

"We have a good organization here and we're in a position we can help others and these guys - we had many, many, volunteers," the foreman said.

The crews departed at around 6:00 a.m. Friday.

In addition to the crew from GRDA, more than 70 contractors and linemen from OG&E are on their way to Florida. They left Oklahoma City bright and early Thursday morning.

10/6/2016 Related Story: OG&E Offers Helping Hand To Southeast Coast

Their main focus will be clearing debris from the roads and rebuilding any power lines downed during the storm.

The Humane Society of Tulsa will also help with storm relief from Hurricane Matthew.

Crews will leave Tulsa for Georgia in the morning as the hurricane makes its way up the East Coast.

The Humane Society has several mobile units they use to rescue, shelter and provide emergency veterinary services.