Springfield, IL  (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – CWLP crews are returning to Springfield after spending nearly two weeks assisting the City of Douglas, Georgia, following the damage caused by Hurricane Helene. The storm affected several states, including Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas. Two CWLP crews, along with a supervisor, worked in Douglas, a town of 11,000 residents, to help restore power to the area.

The CWLP teams focused on repairing large circuits on major transmission lines and poles to quickly restore power to key facilities, including a Walmart Distribution Center, the U.S. Post Office, and grocery stores. Once these larger systems were back online, crews worked on smaller repairs in residential neighborhoods. The community initially faced challenges like damaged buildings, flooding, loss of cell phone service, and a lack of water supply, and there is still a lot of work to be done.

This trip was made possible through mutual aid agreements, which allow utilities to share resources and restore power faster during major disasters. CWLP’s assistance was part of a coordinated effort with the American Public Power Association and the Illinois Municipal Utility Association, similar to how aid was used after Springfield’s June 2023 derecho.