I&M crews are reflecting on their time spent with our sister companies, Kentucky Power and Appalachian Power Company (APCO), restoring power after the remnants of Hurricane Helene caused widespread power outages. A contingent of 466 I&M employees and business partners were among the more than 7,000 restoration workers that returned power to those impacted in a little over one week.

Shortly after the Category 4 Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida, it evolved into a widespread storm system. The 800-mile-wide system brought winds upwards of 65 mph, resulting in 44,000 Kentucky Power and 282,000 APCO customers to lose power.

"I was honored when Jason Baker (APCO vice president of Distribution Region Operations) asked us to help support him and his team in one of the largest storm restoration efforts in AEP history," said Scott Huebner, I&M's Director of Distribution Region Operations. "It never ceases to amaze me how the folks in this company pull together in the worst situations. When we arrived in the Kingsport district, we arrived as strangers. When we left, we were family."

According to APCO, crews replaced 1,455 poles, 214 miles of wire and 438 transformers, among hundreds of other critical pieces of electrical infrastructure. I&M line workers restored power using special equipment in hard-to-reach areas, including a helicopter.

"It was great to see the different tools we use to restore power in rough terrains," said Nate Allen, Line Crew supervisor in Elkhart. "I never thought when I left home that I'd be restoring power and directing a helicopter to set a pole for line crews. It shows the lengths we go to and our determination to safely get the power back on during storm restoration."

Crews worked 16-hour days in the hilly, densely forested regions and navigated around washed out and closed roads. Despite the destruction and hazards, everyone worked safe and returned home to their families. The gratitude our crews felt was overwhelming.

"Everybody saw the destruction on TV and on social media. But, when you're out there in person and see the wind and flooding damage - especially the trees - it's heartbreaking," said Jesse Lafromboise, Manager of Distribution System for our Fort Wayne district. "The community was nothing but gracious, asking if we were hungry or if we needed anything, when we were there to help them. The best part was, we were able to restore a piece of normalcy and see the lights come on in the community. People would drive by honking their horns saying thank you and they were even able to hold a Friday night football game."

Our restoration team remarked on the welcoming and comforting nature of the residents of Tazewell, Virginia. Our line workers were thankful when the town came together to clean their clothes.

"We dropped laundry off at a local cleaner and when the clothes were picked up, we discovered residents started a collection to cover the cost. People also donated laundry detergent, volunteered to run the laundry machines, and even fold our clothes," said Donny Williams, I&M's Manager of Distribution System for our southwest Michigan district. "The only item they wanted in return was a photo of our group to hang in the lobby. There was no shortage of generosity and appreciation from that community. Thank you for welcoming us and treating us with grace."

Our dedicated crews wouldn’t have been able to restore impacted customers without the support from home.

"This remarkable feat was made possible not just by those who left home to aid in restoration efforts, but also by those amazing individuals who stayed behind to ensure we provided reliable and safe service to our Indiana and Michigan customers," said Brian Lett, Manager of Distribution System for South Bend and Elkhart district. "We have an impressive team. When events like this occur, we display our spirit and resilience. Thank you for everything you do every day."

Assisting each other after extreme weather is a critical role for power companies. I&M answers the call for others in their time of need because we know that when we need an extra hand, help will come from across the country - especially from our fellow AEP operating companies.