When disaster strikes, communities often come together, and Stoughton is no exception. After Hurricane Milton caused widespread flooding in Florida, a dedicated team of linemen from Stoughton Utilities stepped up to offer crucial support, working to restore power to affected areas in the wake of the storm.
This mission continues a tradition of mutual aid that began with Hurricane Helene. According to Jill Weiss, Director of Stoughton Utilities, their desire to help communities in need has always been a core value for the utility’s team. “Our staff was eager to respond when we knew hurricanes would make landfall, but this did not start with Hurricane Milton. Their desire to help started with Hurricane Helene,” Weiss said.
Preparations began on Sept. 24, 2024, when Stoughton Utilities reached out to their industry partner, Municipal Electric Utilities of Wisconsin (MEUW), in anticipation of the storm. On Oct. 7, MEUW contacted Stoughton Utilities requesting assistance from Kissimmee Utility in Florida for power restoration. However, just as the crew was en route, plans shifted. Kissimmee Utility no longer required aid, but Lakeland, another community in Florida, desperately needed help. Stoughton Utilities altered course without hesitation and sent their team to Lakeland to assist with power restoration.
“I met with our team early on Oct. 8, 2024, to discuss how we could maintain service to our Stoughton Utilities customers and respond to the needs of others,” Weiss explained.
The team encountered an overwhelming scene when they arrived in Lakeland in the early morning hours. “There were primary and secondary lines down, “Journeyman Lineworker Andrew Ruder recalls, “We arrived around 2 a.m. to almost pitch black, the only light coming from the stars and places with generators. Apprentice Journeyman Lineworker Chad Mason added, “There were still trees thrown across the road that had not been cleared out yet.” The devastation was immediate, and the linemen quickly learned that restoring power would require more than fixing power lines.
The most significant challenge was dealing with the debris. “There were power lines tangled and spun in the trees like webs. It takes a long time to trim around the lines and free them. There was also flooding in some places up to three feet,” Mason said.
Despite these challenges, the linemen were inspired by the professionalism of all crews on-site. “Working with all the MEUW and Lakeland guys was great!” Ruder said. “We all worked well together and safely. We all had great communication!” The positive work environment was essential to keeping the mood up in such a demanding situation. For Mason, working with linemen from other areas was an eye-opening experience: “I’m the kind of person who likes to get input on how or why another lineman does certain things the way they do. Everyone was friendly, which is good in that kind of environment because you want to keep morale high.”
For these linemen, the motivation to volunteer was simple: to help those in need. “It’s always a good feeling to get the lights back on for people,” an anonymous Journey Lineworker said. Ruder, volunteering for his first out-of-state storm recovery, called it a memorable experience. “I thought it would be a great experience! I was happy to help people in need. It is a great opportunity that I had to be able to help. I will never forget it. I met some great linemen and good friends,” he said.
The Stoughton Utilities crew spent a little over a week in Florida, working tirelessly to restore power to more than 86,000 people. Despite the challenges, their commitment to helping others stood out. Reflecting on the experience of their time in Florida, the linemen emphasized the importance of teamwork and the importance of community, both at home and far from home.
