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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 105%;">CITY OF COLUMBIA, MISSOURI<br />P.O. BOX 6015 COLUMBIA, MO 65205</p></div>
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<h2 style="font-size: 200%;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</h2>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">October 16, 2016</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 75px; font-size: 120%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Connie Kacprowicz, Communications & Marketing Manager
<br />connie.kacprowicz@como.gov
<br />(573) 874-7325</p>
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<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:200%;"><h3 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 170%;">Florida residents thank linemen for restoring power</h3>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <p style="display:inline;">Eight Columbia Water & Light linemen will be home on Sunday after spending 11 days away from their families to help restore power to Jacksonville, Florida residents after Hurricane Mathew. It was estimated that more than one million Florida residents were without power after the hurricane hit. The Columbia volunteers left on Oct. 5 with trucks and equipment so they could be close by when the devastation hit. Working 17 hour days with seven hours off, is a testament to the linemen's dedication to helping those in need.</p>
<p>The hard, dangerous work did not go unnoticed by Jacksonville residents. Here is a sample of social media posts about the Columbia Water & Light linemen's help:</p>
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<li>We are a resident of Jacksonville, FL that your linemen are helping. They are awesome. My home has not had electric in over 5 days and your guys are the only ones we have seen in our neighborhood. We really appreciate your services.</li>
<li>I want to give Columbia Missouri Guys a BIG THANK YOU for coming to Jacksonville Florida and restoring our Power if it wasn't for you coming we would still be without Power. Have a Bless and Safe trip back home.</li>
<li>Thank you, to the Gentlemen from Columbia Water and Light. You guys have no idea how thankful we are to have you in our neighborhoods. There are many who have suffered for days with no power in the heat and humidity. Not to mention, elderly who you are helping right now. Thank you to the families who are doing without their loved ones, so they can help my family out. This is my sister who's power they are helping restore. She is not a ticket, she is a person who deserves to come home to a nice cool, well stocked home with groceries that are not spoiled. Your men are making this possible, Thank you all!!! <3 <3 <3 "Go BIG RED!!!!"</li>
<li>We have electricity back after 5 days due to the help of your guys!!! Thank you Missouri!!!</li>
<li>Thank you so much guys after 101 hrs. I got power back last night. Sorry you are away from your families right now and hope you all return home safe. Jacksonville, FL loves you.</li>
<li>Thank you for restoring electricity to my Jacksonville, FL neighborhood. I had an accident the day the hurricane came to visit and as a very senior citizen I could not go home to no electricity and spoiled food as we waited for 5 days. Now I can return to my home to heal my ribs and be comfortable with power and replaced food. You are The Best!!!</li>
<li>From Florida Municipal Electric Association: Thank you for all the well wishes to those of us in Florida with Hurricane Matthew. And an even bigger thank you to those of you that have sent crews our way to assist in restoration efforts.</li>
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<p>A mutual aid program allows utility workers to help during wide-spread outages in other communities. Columbia Water & Light pays the salaries of the linemen and then will be reimbursed by the utilities they worked for. The work was coordinated through the Missouri Public Utility Alliance located in Columbia. </p>
<p>NOTE: Staff members will be available for interviews on Monday, October 17 during office hours.</p></div>
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<div style="margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 20px; text-align:center;"><p>City of Columbia Vision<br>
<em>Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.</em></p>
<p>City of Columbia Mission<br>
<em>To serve the public through democratic, transparent and efficient government.</em></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p>
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