ASHEVILLE, NC – A local powerline company has travelled to North Carolina to help with recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastation.
Cody Brubacher and his twin brother Jordan, owners of Brubacher Powerline, have been rebuilding powerlines for two weeks already, with no end date in sight.
On Sept. 27, the brothers and their two employees gathered their equipment and company truck and began their 13-hour journey.
“We’re starting to get power back … we’re getting into a routine; day 14 now so everything is going a lot smoother than the first few days,” Cody told the Advertiser by phone on Oct. 10.
Hurricane Helene was a category-four tropical cyclone that caused widespread destructions and fatalities across the southeastern United States from Sept. 24 to 29.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), “severe and unprecedented flooding occurred, with hundreds of fatalities and billions in property damage.”
The hurricane brought wind gusts over 160km/h and more than four inches of rain in certain areas, NWS officials added.
Cody had previous experience helping out after storms with another company before co-owning his business.
“I met a guy one storm who had his own company down here [North Carolina],” noted Cody.
“I brought my company down under his company as a sub-contractor.”
Cody figured if he had the right equipment and hands, then he should be in North Carolina.
“Everyone down here is so thankful. It’s been two weeks and people are still driving by being so thankful that we’re down here from Canada helping,” noted Cody.
The crews started on the outskirts of Asheville, NC, but are now located in the city for a few days, rebuilding power lines and poles with other companies.
“There’s a lot of old big trees down on houses and lines and washed-out roads,” Cody said. “All the flooding in our area is gone.”
His days start at 5:30am and end around 10pm, he said.
As they move through the state with no end in sight, Cody expressed his gratitude for the experience.
“What we do at home is a lot smaller scale than here, with our small contracting company,” he stated.
“I’m loving getting the experience down here with a lot of good linemen.”
The crews will continue moving throughout cities, helping wherever they can.
“They just keep us here as long as they need us,” Cody said.
Although Hurricane Helene has passed another hurricane has arrived. Hurricane Milton has damaged the state of Florida and surrounding areas in its path.
UPDATE: In an email from Cody Brubacher received on Oct. 14 he states his crew was released that morning and will be arriving home on Oct. 15.
