Dang it Helene!

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What’s up my fellow Line-Trash and Bucket Bunnies, welcome to your 5 minute newsletter about cool shit happening “On the Line.” Made by your bucket buddy, Barnyard, a JL out of Detroit.

First things first: I am so sorry for being a couple days late. I’m working here in Anderson, South Carolina, and we were without power in our hotel. In addition, internet has been super spotty. I’ll tell ya though, I’m glad to have the A/C back, and some hot water for my shower.

I hope all of you guys are being safe, I know there’s been a lot of calls going out, anywhere from Florida to Ohio, we should all be able to make a lot of money from this storm.

We’d love to hear how your week went—drop us a line and share your stories! But before we gear up for the weekend, let’s dive into what this issue has in store:

• 🌩️ Weather Update

• ⚡ Bessie in a Tessie

• 📷 Pic of the week

• 🤔 Storm Reminders

• 🧐 Where’s the work?

🌪️Storm Outlook

Hurricane Helene made landfall on September 26, 2024, as a powerful Category 4 storm on Florida's Gulf Coast, bringing extreme winds of up to 140 mph and storm surges as high as 20 feet. The hardest-hit areas included Florida's Big Bend and Panhandle regions, where storm surges, wind damage, and widespread power outages affected over 200,000 residents.

Several areas in Florida and Georgia are still experiencing flooding and damage, with rescue operations ongoing, especially in areas like Valdosta, Georgia, where many structures have been destroyed.

The storm also caused flash floods and tornadoes in parts of Georgia and the Carolinas as it moved inland, though it weakened to a tropical storm as it continued northward. Some areas are still experiencing rain and residual flooding, particularly in the Tennessee Valley, where Helene is expected to stall over the weekend​.

If you're in an affected area, it's crucial to stay indoors and avoid debris, as there could be downed power lines and other hazards.

💡Father’s of the Trade:

Nikola Tesla, one of history's most brilliant inventors, made several contributions that significantly impacted the lineman trade, particularly through his work on alternating current (AC) power distribution. Before Tesla's breakthroughs, the dominant form of electrical transmission was direct current (DC), championed by Thomas Edison.

DC, however, had severe limitations, especially in transmitting electricity over long distances. Tesla's development and promotion of AC power in the 1880s revolutionized the electrical industry and laid the foundation for modern power grids, transforming the way power is generated, transmitted, and distributed.

AC power could be transmitted efficiently across vast distances, unlike DC, which required power stations to be close to consumers. This innovation drastically changed the lineman's role. Linemen, responsible for installing and maintaining the electrical infrastructure, were now working on high-voltage transmission lines spanning hundreds of miles, something impossible with the old DC systems.

Tesla's invention of the transformer further improved the efficiency of electricity transmission by allowing voltages to be stepped up for long-distance travel and then stepped down for safe local use, making high-voltage transmission lines a cornerstone of electrical infrastructure.

Additionally, Tesla's contributions to the development of polyphase systems (which use multiple phases of AC power) allowed for more stable and reliable power, enhancing the safety and efficiency of electrical grids. Linemen benefited from this technology, as it reduced the occurrence of power failures and made the electrical systems they maintained more reliable. Tesla’s inventions ultimately paved the way for the development of modern high-voltage transmission lines, substations, and the entire electrical infrastructure that linemen work on today.

JNCTN is a company specializing in digital identity and credential management. Their platform helps organizations transition from paper-based verification processes to a digital system, allowing for secure and efficient management of employee credentials.

JNCTN's solutions are used across various industries to ensure that the right people with the right qualifications are in the right locations, streamlining compliance, onboarding, and credential verification. The platform also offers features like automated notifications, real-time monitoring, and easy integration with existing systems.

The plan is for them to be a partnership with the man power. There’s an app in development, being built with the Lineman in mind. The IBEW isn’t partnered up yet, but hopefully soon.

That’s Some Wind

🛻 Storm Reminders! 🛄

Going on 6 days into this hurricane now, just wanted to do a wellness check on everyone!

• Cover your ass! There’s so much devastation and destruction out here, it’s complete chaos. That’s a good thing, because Chaos=Cash, but it’s also a double edged sword.

  A prime example: We were patrolling our circuit yesterday and found another contractor working under our reclosures. The crew didn’t realize they were on our circuit and had no signs/flags up on the reclosures (that we opened).

• Make sure you’re following procedures! Like I just mentioned; nobody knows who’s working on what out here. Make sure you’re grounding, isolating and wearing your PPE, you never know who’s going to throw in what.

  Another prime example: Me and my JL were riding out a circuit a few weeks ago on a storm. The circuit was locked out, and assigned to us. about half way through our patrol, the circuit came hot. Thank god we weren’t actively working it, but man, I’ll tell ya I was pissed.

• Stay Hydrated: I know it gets harped on, but it feels like someone always goes down from the heat. Take your breaks, drink your water.

• Get your rest: I know you’re in a new place, with your buddies, but we’re working long hours, in the heat, busting our ass. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep. Try to remember we have a dangerous job.

• Mind your P’s and Q’s: People are pissed off they don’t have power. Try and be empathetic, I know we’re not appreciated enough.

🎒Looking For Work?🎒

There’s still a few storm calls trickling through: that would be my recommendation at the moment. Best call i’ve seen so far is 1249, all double, 1k completion bonus, through IBC, mountain work.

I checked the books, and here are my top 5 recommendations for books at the moment, criteria being over $50/hour, and “promising” as far as Book 2 calls going out.

• 1245, CA/NV. Currently 33 on Book 1, 153 on Book 2

• 649, IL. Currently 7 on Book 1, 18 on Book 2

• 44, Montana. Currently 1 on Book 1, 3 on Book 2

• 1249, NY. Currently 112 on Book 1, 218 on Book 2

• 55, Iowa. Currently 39 on Book 1, 37 on Book 2

• 17, Detroit MI. Currently 24 open calls.

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See ya next week,