The Storm That Keeps Storming

Welcome to Current Connections, the weekly newsletter for Lineman, by a Lineman

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What’s going on my brothers and sisters!? I’m still down here in South Carolina, and man, is there a lot of damage.

I’m not going to lie, I’m exhausted. The long days, heat and humidity are starting to get to me. We’ve been lucky in that we have had hotels our entire duration; knock on wood that I don’t have to go to a man-camp.

I’m pretty whooped, so no list from me this week. Instead, I’ll have extra photos from all the stuff going on down here. As always, be safe!

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

  • ⚡ DTE!

  • 📷 Photo Dump

  • 📖 Tear Jerker

  • 🧐 Where’s the work?

Dig a hole, set a pole. Hang a pot, make it hot!

-Lineman Shanty

🌪️Storm Recap

As of early October 2024, the aftermath of Hurricane Helene continues to impact the southeastern U.S., with search and rescue operations still underway. The hurricane caused catastrophic damage, especially in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. More than 200 deaths have been confirmed, and hundreds of people remain missing, primarily in North Carolina where flooding was particularly severe.

Efforts to restore power and communications are ongoing, with approximately 1.6 million customers still without power—down from the peak of 4.6 million. FEMA has deployed over 9 million meals, 11 million liters of water, and essential supplies such as generators and tarps to affected areas. The federal government has also committed over $20 million to aid recovery efforts, providing assistance to homeowners and renters whose properties were damaged.

Additionally, federal, state, and local authorities are working around the clock to clear debris, restore infrastructure, and provide emergency medical care. Over 1,000 active-duty military personnel have been deployed to assist with these efforts, and communication systems like Starlink have been brought in to ensure first responders can coordinate effectively in hard-to-reach areas.

Relief organizations such as the American Red Cross are actively operating shelters and providing resources to survivors​

💡Father’s of the Trade:

Thomas Edison made substantial contributions to the lineman trade through his pioneering work on electric power distribution and the development of direct current (DC) systems. In the late 19th century, Edison’s invention of the incandescent light bulb sparked the need for a reliable and safe method of generating and distributing electricity.

His company, the Edison Electric Illuminating Company, established the world’s first power station in New York City in 1882, which delivered DC power to a limited area in Manhattan. This marked the beginning of centralized power generation and distribution, which would require linemen to build and maintain the infrastructure necessary to bring electricity to homes and businesses.

Edison's DC system required linemen to install and service power lines, transformers, and other electrical components within urban centers. Although DC power had limitations, particularly in its inability to be efficiently transmitted over long distances, it was the first practical system for electricity distribution, and it laid the groundwork for modern electrical infrastructure. Linemen at the time worked to install underground and overhead power lines, often in dangerous conditions, to bring Edison's DC power to consumers.

Additionally, Edison’s work in creating electrical safety standards had a significant impact on the lineman trade. He developed fuses, circuit breakers, and other safety devices that reduced the risk of electrical fires and injuries for linemen and consumers alike.

While his DC system was eventually replaced by Nikola Tesla’s more efficient alternating current (AC) system, Edison's early innovations in power distribution were critical in establishing the role of linemen and the fundamental infrastructure of electric utilities that they continue to work with today. His inventions, including switches, meters, and protective devices, provided linemen with the tools they needed to safely manage and repair electrical systems, making his contributions vital to the trade.

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.

No list today, just a few storm pics:

Here’s a Poem That Really Hit Home. Yeah, the money is good, and we have been trained to help people in need, but it’s hard sometimes.

I woke up today and Daddy wasn’t here.

I called and told him good morning and that I slept so good.

I went about my day then dinner came and Daddy still wasn’t here.

Mommy read us stories and helped us say our prayers.

I called Daddy and told him about my day.

When it was time to say goodnight, I asked him where he was and when he was coming home.

He said there was a hurricane and a lot of people needed him. So he was working and didn’t know when he was coming home.

Maybe he’ll come home tomorrow.

It’s been 8 days.

I call him every morning and every night.

But now when we have to hang up, I cry.

He says we’ll get new toys when he comes home.

But I just want my daddy. He’s my favorite toy.

My little brother is too young to understand. He just gets happy to see daddy on the phone.

It’s time for bed now. I’ll pray that God watch over my daddy and his friends.

Maybe he’ll come home tomorrow.

But I’ll call him as soon as I wake up to tell him that I love him.

Then I’ll play with my brother and help mommy cook and clean.

Then I’ll say my prayers and call Daddy again.

And maybe he’ll come home tomorrow…

Posted by LineJunk, on Facebook

@jacobh_hammond

Trying to get em back on⚡️ #cphase#hurricaneseason#georgia #linelife

🎒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 recently is 17, all double, 1k completion bonus: they’re still trickling out.

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.

🫡 Time for “The Business”

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See ya next week,