Amid natural disasters, Rock Hill man coordinates the region’s help

Sept. 09--ROCK HILL -- There's a certain pride in being a lineworker -- especially in times of disasters.

Electric lineworkers are trained to work hard, fast and efficiently, even in flooded or dangerous sites. And if they're really good, they work far longer than their peers, according to Rock Hill Deputy City Manager Jimmy Bagley.

"Being the last crew in town is the best," Bagley said. "It's always their goal to say 'We were the last ones to leave because we did the best job and they asked us to stay.'"

Bagley is in charge of sending line crews, bucket trucks, and plenty of other aid to needy spots around the state and even around the Southeast during natural disasters. He's serving as the state's mutual aid coordinator as Category 4 Hurricane Irma makes landfall in mainland Florida.

Irma weakened slightly from a Category 5 storm Thursday as it bowled over several Caribbean islands, including Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

By the time the storm hits South Carolina Monday night or Tuesday morning, experts predict it will have weakened into a tropical storm.

Assuming South Carolina doesn't suffer any serious impact, Bagley could send up to 100 lineworkers to affected areas in Florida, Georgia or other Southeastern states.

"It's nice to know as Americans, we don't mind helping each other out," Bagley said. "It's the American way. It's good to have contacts to help and to know that those people can help us if we're in need."

Bagley serves as the South Carolina aid coordinator for the South Carolina Association of Municipal Power Systems, (SCAMPS) which includes 21 cities throughout the state. He coordinates resources to send where they need to be, either in-state or throughout the Southeast.

He'll take part in daily conference calls with state officials across the country -- and even members of President Donald Trump's Cabinet -- this weekend as more information on Irma's path becomes available.

Mike Jolly, Rock Hill's director of electric utilities, visited low-lying portions of the state like Orangeburg as a field coordinator in the wake of last year's Hurricane Matthew. He said SCAMPS can authorize sending lineworkers, tree trimmers and even engineering assessors to determine how much damage a natural disaster caused.

"All 21 cities have an agreement to help one another," said Jolly. "And through our national group, the American Public Power Association, we can reach out to our neighbors and across the country to organize help."

Bagley foresees a challenge in Irma: He compares it to Hurricane Hugo, which battered much of South Carolina in 1989. He said Irma is "coming in hot" and "full force."

That may require SCAMPS to quickly mobilize standby personnel from South Carolina to Florida. Bagley said there still will be a small skeleton crew serving Rock Hill in case of an emergency.

Being the point man for disaster relief is a rewarding job, Bagley said. He's received letters of thanks from Florida residents who recognized Rock Hill lineworkers' trucks helping turn the power back on in the wake of past hurricanes.

"But it's also exhausting," Bagley said. "It's taxing. Still, it's nice to know how people really care."

David Thackham: 803-329-4066, @dthackham

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