Seattle utility crews, Red Cross volunteers head east
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JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD -- Seattle City Light crews are heading to the East Coast to help utility crews there restore power to victims of Superstorm Sandy.
Joint Base Lewis-McChord's 446th airlift wing will transport 14 utility workers as well as four utility trucks and a Derrick Digger, a machine used to install power poles. The mission is a first for the McChord crew members who typically haul tanks and artillery.
"(This is) an example of all our people working together to get an unusual load on the airplane," said Lt. Col Steve Kerpius.
Seattle City Light crews are responding to a request for help from an overwhelmed power company in New York in the wake of the storm.
"When you see the images on TV or in the newspapers, you want help. And these guys are actually going to get that opportunity," said Seattle City Light spokesman Peter Clark.
"It's an incredible feeling to be able to go help during a time like this," said the McChord pilot assigned to the eastbound plane.
With civilians and the military working side by side, the mission will put Seattle power crews on the ground by Sunday morning, restoring power for storm victims.
"Long Island, where our crews are going, has been devastated," Clark said. "At one point, they had no power whatsoever."
Also headed to the disaster zone are six Red Cross volunteers from the Puget Sound area. The workers began their journey on Saturday in three emergency response vehicles packed with supplies, water and cleaning kits for the victims.
The volunteers expect the drive to take five days. Once there, they plan to stay for three weeks.
Joint Base Lewis-McChord's 446th airlift wing will transport 14 utility workers as well as four utility trucks and a Derrick Digger, a machine used to install power poles. The mission is a first for the McChord crew members who typically haul tanks and artillery.
"(This is) an example of all our people working together to get an unusual load on the airplane," said Lt. Col Steve Kerpius.
Seattle City Light crews are responding to a request for help from an overwhelmed power company in New York in the wake of the storm.
"When you see the images on TV or in the newspapers, you want help. And these guys are actually going to get that opportunity," said Seattle City Light spokesman Peter Clark.
"It's an incredible feeling to be able to go help during a time like this," said the McChord pilot assigned to the eastbound plane.
With civilians and the military working side by side, the mission will put Seattle power crews on the ground by Sunday morning, restoring power for storm victims.
"Long Island, where our crews are going, has been devastated," Clark said. "At one point, they had no power whatsoever."
Also headed to the disaster zone are six Red Cross volunteers from the Puget Sound area. The workers began their journey on Saturday in three emergency response vehicles packed with supplies, water and cleaning kits for the victims.
The volunteers expect the drive to take five days. Once there, they plan to stay for three weeks.
There hasn't been any calls for data infrastructure technicians. Evidently all the data circuits came through. I can't believe that no fiber optic repeaters, data servers or interconnects were impacted.
Not to worry if their from Seattle there union sheeple..
 @Windowseat "they're"
Very admirable. Â That support is so important. Â Several years ago (5?) when we had that ice storm, we were without power for almost 6 days and it was a crew from Minnesota or Michigan who restored it. Â We nearly cried with relief and loaded them up with every Christmas treat we had as it was all we could do. Â Those folks will really appreciate it too. Â We have friends on Long Island who got power back last night, so it is slowly being restored.
 @Doxie I am always impressed by the speed and effort of the power crews everywhere. We lose power regularly (overhead lines in a heavily wooded area) and regardless of the time of day the Puget Sound Energy linemen have the power restored in what seems to be an amazingly short period of time. Our few extended (multiple day) outages have included heavy snow/ice which the trucks couldn't easily/safely navigate.
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I dislike the union bosses everywhere, but the linemen are the best.
Whatever you do - don't ever send anyone from the Seattle area to help with snow removal..... They'll sue us !!
I hear what you're saying. Cuomo has already made it clear that power companies that come to help will be held responsible for adhering to NY law. Sounds like he's saying if anything goes wrong, we'll be coming after you. His tone sounded a bit less than appreciative.
 @davedwr What?
But union officials completely deny that there was any such condition. "It is the policy of this union and the companies we represent to welcome assistance during major natural disasters -- regardless of union status," Jim Spellane, spokesman for the national office of the IBEW said in a statement. Gov. Christie said the Alabama crew got "bad information" and that non-union crews are welcomed in the recovery effort, according to The Associated Press. Jersey Central Power & Light, the New Jersey utility which provides power to Seaside Heights, is using non-union crews to help restore power.
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Thank You! Be Safe.
Many times I have heard of crews,Fire, City Light, Rescue Dogs and Handlers, and others responding to national disasters like the USA, Mexico, Canada, and other places. leaving here and going to work. Little has been said of how hard they work or what they do or how they have to live when they get there. I have talked with a few and their hours and conditions they have to live in are appalling. A little food, long hours, and other conditions that would make many of us get sick, yet they do it and and willing abandoning families and the comfort of their homes to aid others. These people are the unsung hero's that to the extra mile for others. Oh sure they get paid, but nothing equal to what they do to just help. THANK YOU ALL for your work and efforts. . Â
 @LongBeachBum Reminds me of our deployed service members. People who willingly sacrifice their own comforts, family time and in many instances their lives to help those in need are worth so much more than they are paid.
I wonder if the union thugs in New Jersey will let them work.
 @LockesChild Unrelated comment but let me go ahead and disprove your BS.
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http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57544237/ala-utilities-our-crews-not-turned-away-from-n.j/
 @quidproquo Thanks for proving me right.
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"Upon arriving at a staging area in Virginia, crews were held in place pending clarification of documents received from IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) that implied a requirement of our employees to agree to union affiliation while working in the New York and New Jersey areas."
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Can't even work in a disaster area unless you are affiliated with a union.Â
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 @LockesChild "turned away or kept standing around waiting for union approval is a huge difference to you?"
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Well if you can not admit there is huge difference in not being abke to help, and told to wait breifly before helping, then no there is no difference at all.
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"Heck, turned away would have been better than having to stand around waiting for union boss approvals in a crisis"
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So waiting to help is better than no help in your mind.
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Gotcha, thanks for clearing that up. Â
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 @quidproquo turned away or kept standing around waiting for union approval is a huge difference to you? You are so bad at spin you could also be on Obama's team explaining how voting for revenge wasn't voting for revenge.
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Heck, turned away would have been better than having to stand around waiting for union boss approvals in a crisis. Then the crews would have had a head start getting to some locale without its head up it's collective rear.
 @LockesChild Good job cherry picking.
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""As we waited for clarification, we became aware that Seaside Heights had received the assistance they needed from other sources, To be clear, at no time were our crews "turned away" from the utility in Seaside Heights."
 @LockesChild well I guess it doesn't matter, becuase those of us who demonstrated proper reading comprehension skills noticed that the article clearly stated they were going to New York.
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FTA:
"Seattle City Light crews are responding to a request for help from an overwhelmed power company in New York in the wake of the storm."
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In fact CTRL+F "Jersey"Â Â is only found in your sad pathetic excuse of a post.Â
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 @T H I S I should have added New York, as CBS points out (hattip to quidproqo):
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http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57544237/ala-utilities-our-crews-not-turned-away-from-n.j/
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Since City Light crews are unionized, they will be allowed to work. Other crews that aren't forced into unions must accept union affiliation (wonder if that means dues on the wages received while assisting) before doing any work.
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Nice little community you have there. A pity if something happened to it. Better go public union....
 @T H I S No, they sat there waiting until their short-term union affiliation was approved, which somehow to you is better. You are really trying for that dunce's cap.
No one was ever turned away. Apparently you failed reading comprehension in school?
 @LockesChild So no oine was turned away. So you are just embarrassing yoruself with another failed attempt at trolling. gotcha. Thanks for clearing that up for everyone.
Its great they can go help.
I would have thought there would be trucks available within driving distance.
 @Agent43 And sure pray that while those much needed people, trucks and equipment being so far away that Wa doesn't have any surprise disasters where those items are needed locally.
Hope they have their union cards. They'll need them if they want to help.Â
 @John Gault This has been disproven time and time again.Â
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http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57544237/ala-utilities-our-crews-not-turned-away-from-n.j/
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Stop spreading your BS tripe.
 @quidproquo As pointed out elsewhere, quid is the one who is wrong. The crews were ordered to stand and wait until they could be "affiliated" with the union. No work could be done.
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But to hacks like quid, this is radically different than being turned away.
 @quidproquo  @John Gault I just wanted to thank you for setting this straight, I was under the same assumption myself till I read your link and I posted to my FB page because other people are posting about the crews being turned away
 @firetrail  @John Gault I learned a long time ago to never take anything on the internet at face value. Always confirm with a quick google search to find a reputable source.Â
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Great news. Very cool to hear of fellow Americans (and Canadian) helping fellow Americans.Â
 @HallandOates On who's dime?
 @contraryjim  @HallandOates What's important is getting food and supplies to our fellow Americans when they need it. Who's dime is irrelevant unless you are scrooge.
This is WONDERFUL!! Just make sure they are union. The NYC Union thugs are turning back non-union workers and calling them scumbags and scabs. It's horrifying and very disappointing.
 @Jason D. Disproven. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57544237/ala-utilities-our-crews-not-turned-away-from-n.j/
 @quidproquo You really should read that for comprehension before you post it and destroy your own argument.
 @Jason D. You have any confirm-able proof.  If not, you are lying.  Using a crises to promote you own selfish hatred.  How pathetic..
yeah,uhh huh..more lies from desperate baggers - no ideas..just hate
Red Cross doesn't get a penny from me.
Anyone that 'sells' to relief victims needs to go away. Far Far away!
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Do your research. The ARC SUCKS!
Salvation Army all the way baby. 98%Â return on yer investment. Red Cross? They take donations and sell relief to those in need.
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Just like the UN. Take yer money and sell it off. People are DYING and the red cross wants to make a buck!
 @bobalouie BTDT. Was on a rescue patrol back in the Navy. We landed after 20 hours in the air and were met by the Red Cross SELLING stale doughnuts and rancid coffee. I will not support Red Cross OR United Way or any other agency who is involved with Red Cross.
Awesome!! Way to go!!!
You guys and gals ROCK!!!!!!!