News

GRDA crews responding to Hurricane Helene

Sep 25, 2024

A GRDA mutual aid team left early on September 25 to travel to Georgia ahead of Hurricane Helene making landfall.

While Hurricane Helene moved closer to the Florida coast on Wednesday morning (September 25), crews from the Grand River Dam Authority were on the way to provide mutual aid and emergency response support.

As part of the American Public Power Association (APPA) nationwide mutual aid program, GRDA sent a crew of 20 employees to South Georgia. That group left early Wednesday morning with plans to help with power restoration in Thomasville, Georgia, after the hurricane moves through.

Additionally, two GRDA Police Officers are headed to Pensacola, Florida, as part of the Oklahoma Task Force One Swiftwater Rescue Team. They also left on Wednesday morning to provide assistance with floodwater rescues. Helene is forecasted to bring large storm surges and flooding to much of the Florida panhandle.

Although Oklahoma is far from the coast, providing mutual aid and emergency response assistance is not new to GRDA personnel. In previous years, GRDA has helped with recovery and/or rescue efforts following other hurricanes in Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and North Carolina. Earlier this month, a GRDA crew also provided mutual aid assistance in Louisiana following Hurricane Francine.

“When our crews go to these areas to help with restoration and rescue efforts, they take a wealth of knowledge and experience with them,” said GRDA Spokesperson Justin Alberty. “The Oklahoma standard is neighbors helping neighbors and we are proud to do our part to provide all the help we can.”

GRDA is Oklahoma’s largest public power utility; fully funded by revenues from electric and water sales instead of taxes. Each day, GRDA strives to be an “Oklahoma agency of excellence” by focusing on the 5 E’s: electricity, economic development, environmental stewardship, employees, and efficiency.