POWERGRAMS

17 FAR AWAY UTILITIES LOOK TO ALABAMA POWER FOR HELP AFTER STORMS For 10 days Brian Drazin was in the dark. In fact, his whole town was dark – no lights, no power. And there were other shortages, too, including gasoline. And it was getting cold. Folks in Fair Haven, New Jersey, knew a storm named Sandy was coming. But Drazin and his neighbors couldn't comprehend the immense amount of damage this "superstorm" would unleash on their quiet, waterside hamlet. "It was like Armageddon," he said. And then, Alabama Power showed up. So began an extraordinary relationship between representatives of a Deep South utility and the people in a far-off community eagerly awaiting assistance. While Alabama Power crews worked long days to bring some normalcy back to Fair Haven and nearby towns following the 2012 superstorm, local residents stepped up to support their newfound friends. They put posters in windows, thanking Alabama Power for the help. And they pulled out backyard grills, gathered in a town parking lot and started cooking burgers for the visiting linemen. Drazin, a New Jersey lawyer, got to know David Huddleston during those tough times. Huddleston was leading an Alabama Power team dispatched to New Jersey that spent days working in Fair Haven. Some eight years later, Drazin and Huddleston are still in touch. They often touch base when the weather turns bad, in New Jersey or Alabama. But they also call and check in with each other's families over the holidays and at special events. The families have even met to break bread since Sandy. "I consider him a lifetime friend, and I choose my friends wisely," Drazin said. "He has become a special friend," Huddleston said, mirroring Drazin's words. So, it was particularly heartwarming when Drazin learned in August that Alabama Power was back in New Jersey, helping get the lights back on – again. This time, it was to restore power following Tropical Storm Isaias. Drazin said Isaias wasn't much different from Sandy, "except that there wasn't the storm surge." He said the weather after the two storms, however, was strikingly different. Sandy struck in late October and was followed days later by a nor'easter that dropped several inches of snow. Tropical Storm Isaias was followed by days of hot and muggy weather. Alabama Power crews experienced both extremes during the two recovery operations. This go-round, power was out for five days at Drazin's home. Some of his neighbors were without power for a week. Alabama Power crews didn't quite reach Fair Haven this time; instead, they were working in the adjacent town of Red Bank and nearby communities. "We got guys from Ohio," Drazin said. In all, some 8,000 personnel representing utilities from 17 states were in the area, helping Jersey Central Power and Light and their customers recover from Isaias. The operation reminded Drazin of his friends from Alabama Power and how much he appreciated what all the assisting utilities were doing to help New Jersey once more. "We hoped you would come our way again," Drazin said. During Sandy, "You had an exceptional group of guys here. The quality of the people you sent, the way they interacted with the community – it was unique." Red Bank Mayor Pasquale Menna had special words of praise. His town had power restored by Alabama Power workers following both Sandy and Isaias. This time, about a third of the city was dark for several days. "I want to express the appreciation of all the residents of Red Bank for Alabama Power's support of our community," said Menna, who has been mayor for 14 years and was president of the City Council the prior 18 years. "We are a center in Monmouth County for commerce as well as health services and transportation. It is vital to have our utilities working without interruption," Menna said. "The support Alabama Power provided was invaluable in very challenging times, when resources were stretched to the limit. We are grateful you came such long distances to help us." Others in the community recalled the extraordinary support of Alabama Power following Superstorm Sandy and praised the company's return. Local writer, editor and blogger Elaine Van Develde posted how "some old friends" and "heroes" from Superstorm Sandy were back again to help. "Things were dark with a chilly sting in those post-Sandy belated Halloween horror days, but Alabama Power brought with it a big, warm bright spot," she wrote on her site, rumsonfairhavenretrospect.com. "Everyone basked in it. They shed the light weary residents needed to see their way out of a natural disaster catastrophe. "Everyone became friends in the crisis," Van Develde wrote. "And now, there's a bit of a homecoming – this time masked, sanitized and sans hugs. The looming presence, though, is a big, fat hug of cheer." Drazin marveled at what utility workers do for each other and for distant communities when the weather turns dark. "When this kind of thing happens, and people come from so far away, leave their families to help you, even with COVID – It is really special. I stopped every truck to say thank you." This year's return trip by Alabama Power to New Jersey turned out to be just the first stop for more than 200 company personnel. After completing restoration work there, the team turned west and rolled to Illinois to help restore power to customers of Commonwealth Edison. Residents of that state, and several others MUTUAL AGREEMENT Western Division employees in staging area outside Red Bank, New Jersey. Helping Helping Others Others

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