As weather researchers track a tropical storm in the Atlantic Ocean, Congressman David Rouzer, R-District 7, got a first-hand look at coastal storm preparations and a Duke Energy lineman’s work when he toured a repair site on Hooker Road in Wilmington.
Rouzer said he was confident in the utility’s ability to respond to hurricanes, ice storms and other emergencies, thanks partly to the professionalism of the employees who make repairs to the power lines. Rouzer watched the crew replace a capacitor, which the crew told him cleans voltage and maintains integrity in the main line feed.
“It’s not easy work. It’s hot, grueling work,” Rouzer said. “When you crank on the AC when it’s 100 degrees, you don’t think anything about it, but it’s because of the great work of the linemen.”
The National Weather Service is tracking Tropical Storm Gaston in Atlantic, which briefly turned into a hurricane, and could reform as one as early as Saturday. It’s only the third hurricane of the season and at this point, Gaston has not been forecasted to make landfall.
Rozuer said September and October are months when hurricanes and tropical storms have been historically more prevalent.
“We have the benefit of a lot of experience,” Rouzer said of the area’s storm response capability.
Bill Greenwood, a construction and maintenance supervisor for Duke Energy, said the company monitors storms through its own in-house weather service: Duke Meteorology. Local crews will begin ramping up preparations up to 72 hours before a storm hits the region, he said.
