The City of Anaheim has partnered with Burbank, Los Angeles, Pasadena, and Riverside to send 89 linemen and utility crew members to Long Island, New York, to help with power restoration efforts in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. The Anaheim Public Utility (APU) team includes Supervisor Pat Jelensky, and crew members Nick Heidel, Emi Villalpando, Dave Bogdan, and Frank Gehr.
Their primary focus is to work in the residential neighborhoods to set new poles and replace overhead wires damaged when high winds blew tree limbs into power lines. The APU team and their two bucket trucks were transported to New York on a C-5 military transport aircraft on November 5. They made their way from JFK airport to the Long Island Power Authority’s (LIPA) staging area, and are expected to be assisting LIPA for one more week before returning home.
Kudos to Anaheim for reaching out to help fellow citizens in need in the destructive wake of Hurricane Sandy. Here’s a picture of members of the APU on the scene:
Wouldn’t it be nice if the OC Register would cover the many positive ways Anaheim residents, employees and businesses give to help so many!