I'm Tired Grandpa! (That's Too Bad!)

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Welcome my line brethren! It’s time for your weekly update about “Life on the Line!”

First off, I feel like a muffler…. I’m exhausted. We finally wrapped up our work in South Carolina, just to be routed down to Orlando for Milton. We had a day and a half of rest, which was nice, but went back to work as soon as the storm had passed.

We’re stationed about an hour North-West of Orlando now, in a staging area, not sure where our rooms are going to be. It’s been a rough night, and the lack of clarity and planning is frustrating, but it’s part of the storm experience I suppose.

The outage numbers have gone down significantly already, and I heard that there are around 44,000 lineman in Florida at the moment, so hopefully everything is restored in an expeditious manner! I know I’m ready to come home.

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:

• ☁️ Sick of these storms!

• 🪜 Line Innovations!

• 📷 Pic of the week

• 🤢 Show Up’s and Man Camps

• 🕷️ Welcome to South Carolina

• 🧐 Check out Local 17!

🌪️Storm Outlook

Hurricane Milton, which made landfall as a Category 3 storm in Siesta Key, Florida, on October 9, 2024, has caused widespread devastation across the state. The storm brought with it powerful winds exceeding 100 mph and heavy rainfall, resulting in significant flooding throughout Central Florida.

The storm has left over 3 million people without power and caused at least 16 deaths. In addition to the direct impact of the hurricane, more than a dozen tornadoes were spawned by the storm's outer bands, particularly in areas like Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie, where tornadoes caused extensive damage to homes and infrastructure​.

As recovery efforts continue, Florida officials are working to clear debris and restore power to affected areas. Emergency shelters have been set up, and resources, including fuel, water, and emergency supplies, are being dispatched to the hardest-hit communities. Additionally, ongoing search-and-rescue operations are targeting areas where residents may still be trapped​.

Looking ahead, the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season remains active, and forecasters are monitoring potential future storms. As Hurricane Milton exits Florida, attention is shifting to other developing systems that could impact the southeastern U.S. in the coming weeks. Preparedness measures, such as stocking up on supplies and staying informed about evacuation orders, remain crucial for those in hurricane-prone areas.

💡Father’s of the Trade:

George Westinghouse played a pivotal role in the development of the electrical power industry, which directly impacted the lineman trade. His most significant contribution was his support of alternating current (AC) power. By partnering with Nikola Tesla, who developed the AC motor and transformer, Westinghouse helped commercialize AC power. This technological breakthrough revolutionized the electrical industry, allowing electricity to be transmitted efficiently across vast distances. Linemen were integral to building the infrastructure necessary for AC power transmission, such as power lines, transformers, and substations.

Westinghouse’s introduction of transformers and his role in the development of AC transmission systems transformed the lineman trade by significantly increasing the scale of electrical grids. Linemen were no longer just dealing with localized power systems but were now tasked with installing and maintaining high-voltage transmission lines that spanned entire regions.

This new infrastructure required advanced training and tools for linemen, as the complexity and dangers of handling high-voltage AC lines were far greater than those of DC systems. Westinghouse’s contributions thus led to the creation of the modern power grid, and in doing so, elevated the lineman trade to a more technical and specialized field.

In addition to his technological contributions, Westinghouse also played a key role in improving safety standards for the electrical industry. He recognized the dangers posed by high-voltage electricity and advocated for safety measures that protected both workers and the public.

This focus on safety has had a lasting impact on the lineman trade, where rigorous safety protocols are critical for working with the high-voltage lines that Westinghouse’s AC systems made widespread. Today, the legacy of George Westinghouse's innovations continues to be felt in the lineman profession, as the infrastructure he helped build forms the backbone of modern electrical systems.

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.

It’s been some crazy winds!

😡 Worst part about storm:

Sorry, this is a little bit of a bitch session. I’m ready to go home 😂

• The Food: I swear to myself, every storm, that I will never eat powdered eggs ever again. You get about 3 days into the storm, and if you’re eating their provided meals 3 times a day, you are guaranteed to be reenacting the scene from “Bride’s Maids”

• The Hurry Up and Wait: I get it, we really need to be somewhere. But hey, it would be nice if when we rush to get there, there was something to do. The sense of importance that is imparted on every direction is so frustrating.

• The Chaos: Chaos=Cash. But i’ll be damned if Chaos doesn’t also equal frustration. It truly feels like each storm is the first one for these utilities. Lodging is never taken care of, it’s a mad scramble to get food half the time, and the game plan always seems ass backwards.

• Man Camps: Knock on wood, I have yet to be in one of these, but the horror stories I hear…. If i have to use a shower where there’s backed up water as a result of people pooping in there, I’ma lose my GD mind.

• The People: Most people are super grateful, and super nice. I have had a lot of great experiences from customers who are super supportive of the sacrifices we’re making. Buutttttt….. there are some ass holes. Irate people that feel entitled to their electricity. They are the worst.

• The Dangerousness: Tying into some other points; there’s a lot of confusion out here, and we really need to protect ourselves. It’s frustrating, and sometimes requires extra steps, but at the end of the day, it’s about coming home to our families in one piece.

🎒Looking For Work?🎒

If you’re not working on these storms right now, and looking to tramp, I’d recommend coming up to Local 17 in Detroit. It’s not for everyone, but wages:cost of living is one of the best in the country.

Currently there is 48 open calls for Distro, and 11 for Transmission

🫡 Time for “The Business”

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See ya next week,