Hurricane Season is here. Are you prepared?

August 30, 2010 – Tropical Storm/Hurricane Earl – St. Thomas, Virgin Islands

With the heart of Hurricane Earl directly south of the islands, Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority linesmen braved tropical storm force winds and pole fires to restore full electrical power to Old Tutu.

As viewers will hear in the video, these linesmen risking their lives at the top of swaying poles receive little respect and no thanks from the residents. You will hear a linesman being cursed for cutting away a tree branch entangled in power lines. Another gets grief from a homeowners that needs an electrician.

Islanders harbor a justified anger towards WAPA for its inability to supply consistent power even under the best of circumstances. Linesmen, who have no control over power plant issues, are the workers seen the most and thus receive the verbal blows and threats.

Yet day after day, heat wave or hurricane, WAPA linesmen perform thankless death-defying tasks with antiquated equipment. These are the first responders and heroes who brave the heart of the storm to maintain or restore in our worst case scenarios.