(source South Carolina Living Magazine)
Gov. Henry McMaster used his annual State of the State address to recognize the electric cooperative linemen who worked long hours to restore power to South Carolina after Hurricane Helene.
Midway through his hour-long speech, the Columbia Republican recounted the devastation South Carolina suffered from one of the deadliest and most destructive storms in state history.
On the cooperative system alone, Helene snapped more than 5,500 co-op poles and knocked out the lights for 425,000 meters — almost half of South Carolina’s co-op members.
“But our team responded magnificently,” McMaster said. “And joining us here tonight are a few of the men and women who worked then day and night, some for weeks at a time, at dangerous heights, under dangerous conditions and around deadly high voltage electricity to get the power on.
“Linemen from Duke Energy, Dominion Energy, Santee Cooper. And from the local electric cooperatives, Aiken, Broad River, Blue Ridge, Coastal, Fairfield, Laurens, Little River, Mid Carolina, Newberry and York. I ask that you please stand and be recognized.”
Later that evening, the line workers joined McMaster for a group photo in his office and then attended a reception at the Governor’s Mansion.
“I appreciate it a lot. It’s definitely an honor to have your hard work recognized,” said Little River Electric apprentice lineman Noah Edmonds. “Being a co-op lineman, I know a lot of the people that are in my community, and I can see the work that we’ve done and how it helps people, and I appreciate that. I appreciate the governor for recognizing us for that.”
You can watch the governor’s remarks here.