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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;">P.O. BOX 6015 <br />COLUMBIA, MO 65205</p></div>
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<p style="font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">October 10, 2024</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Jason West
<br />Communications & Outreach Supervisor
<br />City of Columbia Utilities
<br />573.874.7639
<br />Jason.West@CoMo.gov</p>
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<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:150%;"><h1 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 130%;">City of Columbia Utilities continues to help neighbors in areas impacted by hurricanes</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <p style="display:inline;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">On Oct. 10, City of Columbia Utilities sent an electrical crew along with vehicles and machinery to assist with recovery efforts in areas impacted by Hurricane Milton.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Crew Leader Dustin Wilhite, along with linemen Wade Pingel, Cole Talley, Dennis Seversen, Garrett Green and Cody Rowland headed toward Orlando, Florida, where they will stage while waiting for assignment. In addition to the six individuals, the City is also sending a digger truck, double-bucket truck and a backyard machine. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Columbia has been able to assist other communities for some time," said Matt Winingear, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">electrical distribution manager with Columbia Water & Light. "This goodwill gesture really helps the affected community return to normal as quickly as it can."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These latest relief efforts follow the return of another electrical crew on Oct. 8. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Crew Leader Tim Wilson, along with lineworkers Dave Morton, Kody Kile, Jerad Brown, Terrill Brown and Tyler Vincent had spent 14 days helping areas along the East Coast impacted by Hurricane Helene.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That crew was initially routed to Tallahassee, Florida, before being sent to Laurens, South Carolina. It was in Laurens where Wilson and his linemen spent the bulk of their stay and garnered the most appreciation. They quickly became known as "the guys in the red trucks" due to the City’s vehicles’ distinct color.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"What an amazing group of men you sent here to help this little town of ours," wrote Robby Howard, superintendent </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">of the Electric Operations Division with the City of Laurens Commission of Public Works. "Tim and his crew were definitely old-school linemen. They never complained and never had to be checked on or followed up behind. Your group was put on some of the worst areas that I had on my system and got it done in a time frame that I don’t think anyone would have been able to achieve."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The City of Columbia Utilities participates in the American Public Power Association’s Mutual Aid Network, which coordinates with utilities and authorities during widespread power outages. In 2023, the utility received a national commendation from the American Public Power Association for its support in electric power restoration efforts in Springfield, Illinois.</span></p>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">For more information on Utilities and its commitment to mutual aid, visit </span><a style="white-space:nowrap" href="http://como.gov"><span style="font-weight: 400;">CoMo.gov</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> or </span><a style="white-space:nowrap" href="http://publicpower.org/MutualAid"><span style="font-weight: 400;">PublicPower.org/MutualAid</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></div>
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<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 equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.</em></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p>
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