Pre-Planning, Mutual Aid Drive Power Restoration
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The electric restoration in Water Valley took a week.
WATER VALLEY – With the number of outages in the Water Valley Electric Commission’s grid down to single digits at presstime Tuesday, officials reported that the rapid restoration stemmed from strong planning culminating with coordinating outside help from the onset of the storm. This coordination included executing contracts with MDR and Gray’s Power Supply as well as mutual aid agreements with electric departments from the cities of Louisville, Philadelphia and Russellville, Alabama.
The ongoing restoration was the primary agenda item during a special-called meeting Saturday afternoon at The Civic with all electric commissioners in attendance. At the time of the meeting, Electric Commission Chairman Brandon Presley reported that outages were still falling rapidly. Presley credited Atwell and Gent field representative Bradley Hale for coordinating resources and response. He also credited the commitment from the four-man crew employed by the city – Brandon Richardson, Michael Richardson and W.J. Hannaford.
Hale also cited Hometown Grid as a huge help for the restoration effort.
“This system probably saved us a day,” Hale told commissioners, explaining that real-time outage mapping help pinpoint outages.
Presley said Hometown Grid also produced a valuable digital record of storm damage that will help protect taxpayers as the city and commission seek federal reimbursement. Roughly 1,200 photos were submitted through the system, automatically paired with pre-storm imagery to document damage.
“That documentation matters,” Presley said. “It’s the difference between getting reimbursed and fighting over it later.”
Presley also highlighted the behind-the-scenes effort that kept dozens of outside linemen fed and housed during the response.
Liz Reynolds opened Fountain Square as a staging and meal site, while Electric Commissioner Barry Weeks and his wife, Charmie Weeks, coordinated meals with help from many others and donations from local businesses and individuals.
Presley said at times as many as 85 linemen were being fed daily.
“That operation didn’t happen by accident,” Presley said. “It was orderly, it was generous, and it made a difference.”
Transition to debris removal
With electric restoration largely complete, the commission formally moved into the next phase: clearing downed electric infrastructure debris — poles, wire, transformers and streetlight components — so the city can proceed with broader storm cleanup.
Commissioners approved and executed an emergency debris removal agreement with Looks Great Services of Mississippi, Inc. and related companies, using the same FEMA-compliant structure approved earlier by the Water Valley Board of Aldermen.
Electric infrastructure debris removal is expected to begin immediately, clearing the way for the city to move into curbside limb pickup.
