UnitedNews

Nearly 4,000 Members’ Power Restored After Tornadoes

CLEBURNE – In just over 24 hours, United Cooperative Services operations and engineering personnel—along with three contract crews—completed restoring power following the May 15 tornadoes that ravaged Granbury and southwest Cleburne. The only member structures that were not re-energized were ones that were total losses. That number is approaching 100 and is concentrated in the Rancho Brazos Estates subdivision in Granbury.

“At 1:30 a.m. today, we turned on the last section of our service territory that was pummeled by the severe storms and devastating tornadoes Wednesday evening,” said United CEO Ray Beavers. “I’ve said this before, whether in the aftermath of other storms and tornadoes or, more recently, the fires in Possum Kingdom: United employees truly understand their purpose and demonstrate their commitment to the membership every day and in every scenario that comes their way,” he added.

Two tornadoes, compounded by hail and intense winds—reportedly gusting in excess of 100 mph—toppled more than 100 United utility poles, creating outages for 4,000 members of the electric cooperative Wednesday night. Crews from all six United operations offices, along with contractors C&R Powerline Construction, Scott Pole Line and Rodgers Construction, worked around the clock to ensure members’ power was restored quickly and safely.

“To accomplish in 26 hours what our employees and friends from the three contractors were able to accomplish is a testament to the kind of people they are and the quality of character they possess,” said Beavers. “Our members are enduring some monumental hardships as a result of the tornado damage and our folks wanted to provide a sliver of positive hope by getting the power on quickly,” he said.