Eastern Oklahoma Utility Crews Stay In SW Oklahoma To Restore Power

By Jeffrey Smith, The News On 6

SKIATOOK, OK -- Utility workers from towns all across eastern Oklahoma are still in southwest Oklahoma, doing what they can to help restore power.

Electrical crews say dead tree limbs are a major issue in getting the electricity back on, but workers say lending a helping hand is the Oklahoma way. 

With tens of thousands still without power in Southwest Oklahoma, Green Country towns are doing what they can to help. City leaders admit it's a drop in the bucket, but hey, all those drops add up.

"We all send three, four, or maybe five or six guys, well that all starts adding up for each little town that you have. I mean, for some of these towns, their entire town has no electricity. And they don't know how long it's going to be until they get it back," said Martin Tucker, Skiatook administrator.

Skiatook only has seven electrical linesmen. They sent four of them to hard hit Marlow. They arrived last Friday, and had to spend the first two nights sleeping on jail cell mats.

The city of Claremore sent six workers and four trucks to Marlow on Monday.

Collinsville crews have been restoring power in Purcell since Friday. The city sent three workers and one bucket truck.

Pryor sent three men and one bucket truck to Duncan. They've been there since Sunday.

"It's really gratifying to be able to send some guys down to help someone else. There's really sort of a limited pool of people that know how to do these repairs," said Martin Tucker.

Linesman Chris Nicholson says the most gratifying part isn't restoring power; it's the thank you's from homeowners.

"They just appreciate our work, they just appreciate us being here," said Chris Nicholson, a Skiatook worker. "It keeps you going, builds your confidence back up and gets you a little more energy.

State leaders say they're moved by the response.

"Almost every city that wasn't affected by ice, has been able to send crews into southwest Oklahoma to assist those cities," said Shane Woolbright, Municipal Electrical Systems of OK.

Its slow work, but Green Country crews will be there until the job's done.

There are dozens of Green Country towns across Eastern Oklahoma that have sent utility crews across the state. City officials The News On 6 spoke with Tuesday say their workers will stay through the end of this week.