Our region was hit hard by the aftereffects of Hurricane Helene. The steady rains and winds brought much destruction to our service area and had catastrophic impacts on our neighboring communities. Tragically, several lives were lost, and homes were destroyed. However difficult, in the midst of great tragedy there is often an opportunity for great thankfulness.
A few weeks prior to the hurricane, I experienced firsthand how our Tennessee Air National Guard executes training to stay at-the-ready for missions both domestic and abroad. This experience was hosted by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) organization. We had the opportunity to join the 134th Air Refueling Wing of the Tennessee Air National Guard in a KC-134R aircraft and participate in the unique air-refueling mission of a B-2 Spirit bomber. Beyond the sheer magnitude of the experience, I had the opportunity to learn about these service men and women who are part of the National Guard and stand ready to serve our country, and our community, at a moment’s notice.
The 134th Air Refueling Wing operates from Joint Base McGhee-Tyson near Knoxville, TN. This base is also home to the 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion that provided rescue operations for the 50 staff members and patients at the Unicoi County Hospital during the flood on September 27, by airlifting them from the rooftop with three Blackhawk helicopters. Their training and preparedness saved many lives that day.
Our own team at BTES stays in a constant state of readiness. When the impact of Hurricane Helene hit our area, all of our crews and staff were here and ready to respond. They safely executed their mission with precision and excellence over many days of challenging work. I am honored to be a part of such an amazing team that puts service to our community above their own comfort and convenience so that we can be a trusted resource for our customers. For that, I am very thankful.
I am thankful for the many peers in our industry who came to our aid by providing crews that nearly quadrupled our workforce in restoring electric services to our community. Their willingness to provide assistance reduced what would have otherwise been weeks of outages to only seven days. I am also incredibly thankful to the men and women in our armed services, who stay at-the-ready to serve and protect our freedoms nationally, and protect life and property locally, during emergency response operations.
May we all be reminded of things we can be thankful for this season.
Blessings to you,
Clayton Dowell
Chief Executive Officer
